MC WEEK 7

Question 1

What describes sensation in the context of sensory experiences?

A) The process of interpreting stimuli by the brain.
B) The psychological aspect of making sense of stimuli.
C) The physical process of sensory organs responding to external stimuli.
D) The way past experiences influence present perceptions.

Answer 1

C) The physical process of sensory organs responding to external stimuli.
Explanation: Sensation involves the physical response of sensory organs to external stimuli, involving transduction of physical energy into electrical signals.

Question 2

What psychological process involves interpreting and understanding stimuli?

A) Sensation
B) Adaptation
C) Perception
D) Signal detection

Answer 2

C) Perception
Explanation: Perception refers to the psychological process of making sense and interpreting stimuli after the brain receives electrical signals from sensory organs during sensation.

Question 3

Which principle explains why we may not detect a faint perfume scent from a distance?

A) Weber’s Law
B) Differential Threshold
C) Signal Detection
D) Absolute Threshold

Answer 3

D) Absolute Threshold
Explanation: Absolute threshold refers to the minimum amount of stimulation required for a sensory organ to detect a stimulus, explaining why faint scents may not be detectable from a distance.

Question 4

What method helps determine a person’s ability to detect varying intensities of stimuli?

A) Differential Threshold
B) Method of Limits
C) Signal Detection
D) Absolute Threshold

Answer 4

B) Method of Limits
Explanation: The method of limits involves presenting stimuli of varying intensities to determine the threshold at which a person can reliably detect stimulation in a given sense.

Question 5

What is correctly identifying a sound that was heard called in signal detection experiments?

A) Miss
B) Hit
C) False Alarm
D) Correct Rejection

Answer 5

B) Hit
Explanation: In signal detection experiments, correctly identifying a sound that was heard is termed a “hit.”

Question 6

Which principle explains the ability to detect a noticeable difference between two stimuli?

A) Absolute Threshold
B) Weber’s Law
C) Differential Threshold
D) Signal Detection

Answer 6

B) Weber’s Law
Explanation: Weber’s Law states that bigger stimuli require larger differences to be noticed, explaining how noticeable differences between stimuli vary based on their magnitude.

Question 7

What type of processing builds perception from individual pieces in a bottom-up approach?

A) Signal Detection
B) Top-down Processing
C) Sensory Adaptation
D) Bottom-up Processing

Answer 7

D) Bottom-up Processing
Explanation: Bottom-up processing involves building perception from individual pieces of stimuli, focusing on sensory input rather than expectations or prior experiences.

Question 8

How does top-down processing influence perception?

A) It constructs perception from individual pieces.
B) It focuses on sensory input rather than past experiences.
C) It builds perception from expectations and past experiences.
D) It involves reducing sensory adaptation effects.

Answer 8

C) It builds perception from expectations and past experiences.
Explanation: Top-down processing uses past experiences and expectations to influence the perception of new stimuli.

Question 9

What happens when a sensory stimulus remains constant and unchanging over time?

A) Sensory Adaptation
B) Signal Detection
C) Weber’s Law
D) Differential Threshold

Answer 9

A) Sensory Adaptation
Explanation: Sensory adaptation occurs when a constant stimulus leads to decreased responsiveness by sensory receptors over time.

Question 10

What cells in the retina are responsible for our ability to see in dim light and provide color vision in brighter conditions?

A) Rods and cones
B) Bipolar cells
C) Ganglion cells
D) Horizontal cells

Answer 10

A) Rods and cones
Explanation: Rods are responsible for night vision, while cones provide color vision and fine detail in brighter conditions, and they are specialized photoreceptor cells in the retina

Question 11

What is the process called when our rods become bleached in normal light and require time to recover?
A) Light adaptation
B) Auditory conversion
C) Dark adaptation
D) Cochlear recovery

Answer 11

C) Dark adaptation
Explanation: Dark adaptation refers to the process of the rods becoming bleached in normal light and needing time to recover, enabling night vision in low-light conditions.

Question 12

Which sensory adaptation process occurs almost instantly compared to its counterpart?

A) Dark adaptation
B) Auditory transduction
C) Light adaptation
D) Cochlear conversion

Answer 12

C) Light adaptation
Explanation: Light adaptation occurs almost instantly compared to dark adaptation, wherein a large number of rods and cones are bleached at once, causing momentary blindness in bright light conditions.

Question 13

According to the trichromatic theory of color vision, what is expected when staring at an image for 30 seconds and then looking at a white wall?

A) Seeing white
B) Seeing the opposite color of the image
C) No afterimage
D) Seeing black

Answer 13

A) Seeing white
Explanation: According to the trichromatic theory, staring at an image for 30 seconds and then looking at a white wall should result in perceiving white due to the cones being temporarily fatigued by the image’s color.

Question 14

What theory explains our perception of afterimages and the response of retinal ganglion cells to pairs of colors?

A) Trichromatic theory
B) Opponent-process theory
C) Dark adaptation theory
D) Auditory localization theory

Answer 14

B) Opponent-process theory
Explanation: The opponent-process theory explains afterimages and retinal ganglion cell response by suggesting that specialized cells compute differences between pairs of colors, such as red-green and blue-yellow.

Question 15

What is responsible for coding the loudness and frequency of sound stimuli?

A) Tympanic membrane
B) Cochlear nerve
C) Ossicles
D) Amplitude and frequency of sound waves

Answer 15

D) Amplitude and frequency of sound waves
Explanation: The loudness (amplitude) and pitch (frequency) of sound stimuli are coded by the amplitude and frequency of sound waves, respectively.

Question 16

Where are auditory hair cells located in the ear, responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals?

A) Auditory canal
B) Cochlea
C) Tympanic membrane
D) Pinna

Answer 16

B) Cochlea
Explanation: Auditory hair cells, responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals, are located inside the cochlea, a fluid-filled bone structure in the inner ear.

Question 17

What characteristic of sound helps in the localization of sound in 3D space?

A) Timbre
B) Amplitude
C) Frequency
D) Arrival time at each ear

Answer 17

D) Arrival time at each ear
Explanation: Sound localization in 3D space is facilitated by differences in the arrival time of sound waves at each ear, allowing us to locate the source based on which ear receives the sound first.

Question 18

Which part of the brain processes information from auditory hair cells?

A) Cerebellum
B) Hippocampus
C) Primary somatosensory cortex
D) Primary auditory cortex

Answer 18

D) Primary auditory cortex
Explanation: Information from auditory hair cells is processed by the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe after passing through the cochlear nerve and thalamus.

Question 19

Which theory explains the mechanism underlying the phenomena of phantom limbs experienced after amputations?

A) Lock-and-key theory
B) Vibration theory
C) Shape theory
D) Brain-nerve theory

Answer 19

C) Shape theory
Explanation: The shape theory of phantom limbs suggests that the binding of odorants to olfactory receptors is akin to a lock-and-key mechanism, where different specialized receptors respond to different odorants based on their shapes.

Question 20

What is the primary location for taste receptor cells that perceive the five basic tastes?

A) Bumps on the tongue (papillae)
B) Taste buds on the tongue
C) Taste cells in the nasal cavity
D) Upper palate of the mouth

Answer 20

B) Taste buds on the tongue
Explanation: Taste receptor cells, responsible for perceiving the five basic tastes, are primarily located in taste buds on the tongue rather than the bumps (papillae).

Question 21

Which sense(s) contribute(s) to the perception of flavor during eating?

A) Taste alone
B) Smell alone
C) Taste and sight
D) Taste and smell

Answer 21

D) Taste and smell
Explanation: The perception of flavor during eating is a result of the combination of taste and smell. Odorants from food reach the olfactory receptors during chewing, enhancing the overall flavor perception.

Question 22

What does the principle of inverse effectiveness state in the context of multisensory integration?

A) The stronger the initial unimodal stimulus, the more effective additional cues from other modalities are.
B) The weaker the initial unimodal stimulus, the less beneficial additional cues from other modalities are.
C) Multisensory stimuli have equal effectiveness irrespective of the strength of the unimodal stimulus.
D) Unimodal stimuli have a stronger impact when combined with additional cues from other modalities.

Answer 22

B) The weaker the initial unimodal stimulus, the less beneficial additional cues from other modalities are.
Explanation: The principle of inverse effectiveness suggests that the less powerful the initial unimodal stimulus, the less it benefits from additional cues from other modalities.

Question 23

Where have neurons responding to both visual and auditory stimuli been identified?

A) Primary somatosensory cortex
B) Superior temporal sulcus
C) Primary auditory cortex
D) Visual association cortex

Answer 23

B) Superior temporal sulcus
Explanation: Neurons responding to both visual and auditory stimuli have been identified in the superior temporal sulcus, indicating regions involved in multimodal perception.

Question 24

Which physical measure is most directly associated with the perceived loudness of a sound?

A) Sound frequency
B) Duration of the sound
C) Sound intensity (or sound pressure)
D) Context in which the sound is presented

Answer 24

C) Sound intensity (or sound pressure)
Explanation: While other factors such as frequency, duration, and context influence loudness, the most direct physical correlate of loudness is the sound intensity or sound pressure measured close to the eardrum.

Question 25

What principle underlies the perception of pitch in harmonic complex tones?

A) Spectral content of the sound
B) Temporal envelope of the sound
C) Missing fundamental theory
D) Phase locking of hair cells

Answer 25

C) Missing fundamental theory
Explanation: The perception of pitch in harmonic complex tones is explained by the phenomenon of the “pitch of the missing fundamental,” where even if the energy at the fundamental frequency (F0) is absent, the brain still perceives the sound’s pitch corresponding to the F0.

Question 26

Which characteristics contribute to the description of a sound’s timbre?

A) Loudness and duration
B) Spectral content and temporal envelope
C) Pitch and duration
D) Frequency and intensity

Answer 26

B) Spectral content and temporal envelope
Explanation: Timbre is defined by qualities such as spectral content (which influences brightness or dullness) and temporal envelope (such as attack or onset characteristics).

Question 27

Where is the primary site for frequency decomposition of complex sounds in the auditory system?

A) Outer ear
B) Middle ear
C) Inner ear
D) Auditory nerve

Answer 27

C) Inner ear
Explanation: The cochlea, located in the inner ear, functions to decompose complex sounds into their constituent frequencies based on the place of excitation on the basilar membrane, establishing the tonotopic representation.

Question 28

What is the role of outer hair cells in the organ of Corti within the cochlea?

A) Transmission of neural signals
B) Detection of vibrations through stereocilia
C) Amplification of sound-induced vibrations
D) Synapse with the auditory nerve

Answer 28

C) Amplification of sound-induced vibrations
Explanation: Outer hair cells in the organ of Corti primarily function to mechanically amplify the sound-induced vibrations within the cochlea.

Question 29

What phenomenon occurs when a more intense sound makes a less intense sound difficult to hear, provided their frequency content overlaps?

A) Suppression
B) Phase locking
C) Masking
D) Fusion

Answer 29

C) Masking
Explanation: Masking is the process where the presence of one sound (more intense) makes another sound (less intense) difficult to hear, particularly if their frequency content overlaps, swamping the activity in the cochlea produced by the target sound.

Question 30

Which phenomenon occurs when the response to a masker reduces the neural response to the target sound?

A) Phase locking
B) Upward spread of masking
C) Informational masking
D) Suppression

Answer 30

D) Suppression
Explanation: Suppression is a form of masking where the response to the masker reduces the neural response to the target sound.

Question 31

What distinguishes auditory localization from vision in spatial acuity?

A) Auditory acuity is better for locating objects in space.
B) Auditory acuity is an order of magnitude poorer than vision in locating objects in space.
C) Auditory acuity provides finer-grained analysis compared to vision.
D) Auditory acuity is limited to a smaller field of hearing compared to vision.

Answer 31

B) Auditory acuity is an order of magnitude poorer than vision in locating objects in space.
Explanation: While auditory localization provides a 360° field of hearing, its acuity in locating objects in space is at least an order of magnitude poorer than vision. Vision generally offers finer-grained analysis for spatial information.

Question 32

Which two main sources of information are crucial in auditory localization?

A) Monaural level and tonal accuracy
B) Interaural time differences (ITD) and interaural level differences (ILD)
C) Temporal fine structure and reverberation time
D) Direct-to-reverberant energy ratio and monophonic cues

Answer 32

B) Interaural time differences (ITD) and interaural level differences (ILD)
Explanation: Auditory localization primarily relies on interaural time differences (ITD), involving the arrival time of sound at each ear, and interaural level differences (ILD), which result from differences in sound intensity reaching each ear, especially at higher frequencies.

Question 33

Where is the auditory system most sensitive to interaural time differences (ITDs)?

A) At frequencies above 1.5 kHz
B) At frequencies below 1.5 kHz
C) At frequencies above 5 kHz
D) At frequencies below 5 kHz

Answer 33

B) At frequencies below 1.5 kHz
Explanation: The auditory system is most sensitive to ITDs at lower frequencies, specifically below about 1.5 kHz, while at higher frequencies, sensitivity to ITDs decreases.

Question 34

At which frequencies are interaural level differences (ILDs) most useful for sound localization?

A) Low frequencies below 1 kHz
B) Midrange frequencies between 1 kHz and 5 kHz
C) High frequencies above 5 kHz
D) Across the entire audible frequency range

Answer 34

C) High frequencies above 5 kHz
Explanation: ILDs are most useful for sound localization at higher frequencies, especially above 5 kHz, where the head shadow effect is more pronounced.

Question 35

Which contextual cues are often used for inferring the distance of a sound source?

A) Temporal fine structure and spatial echoes
B) Reverberation and monophonic cues
C) Spatial echoes and tonal accuracy
D) Reverberation and loudness perception

Answer 35

B) Reverberation and monophonic cues
Explanation: Information about distance can be inferred from the characteristics of reverberation and the understanding of specific sound properties (e.g., loudness) in a given context.

Question 36

What principles govern the formation of auditory objects or streams?

A) Spatial proximity and reverberation
B) Temporal proximity and frequency coincidence
C) Loudness and tonal accuracy
D) Spatial separation and temporal disparity

Answer 36

B) Temporal proximity and frequency coincidence
Explanation: Auditory objects or streams are formed based on principles such as temporal proximity (sounds beginning and ending at the same time) and frequency coincidence (sounds that are in close proximity in frequency).

Question 37

What has been observed in individuals with a mutation affecting deep pain nerves?

A) Excessive sensitivity to temperature changes
B) Frequent fractures and joint damage
C) Heightened tactile sensation
D) Decreased responsiveness to chemical stimuli

Answer 37

B) Frequent fractures and joint damage
Explanation: Individuals with a mutation affecting deep pain nerves often suffer from joint damage and frequent fractures, leading to significant physical challenges.

Question 38

What role does the somatosensory system play?

A) Regulation of emotional responses
B) Providing information about body and immediate external world properties
C) Control of cognitive functions
D) Management of digestive processes

Answer 38

B) Providing information about body and immediate external world properties
Explanation: The somatosensory system offers information about the body (interoception) and external world properties (exteroception).

Question 39

Which receptors respond to mechanical stimulation of the skin?

A) Chemoreceptors
B) Thermoreceptors
C) Mechanoreceptors
D) Photoreceptors

Answer 39

C) Mechanoreceptors
Explanation: Mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical stimulation, such as stroking, stretching, or vibration of the skin

Question 40

What characterizes the experience of stepping on a pin?

A) A single sensory signal transmitted to the somatosensory cortex
B) Simultaneous signals indicating pain and pressure through A-fibers
C) Discriminatory signal localized in the insular cortex
D) Separation of affective signals from the limbic system

Answer 40

B) Simultaneous signals indicating pain and pressure through A-fibers
Explanation: Stepping on a pin generates simultaneous signals through A-fibers—one for discrimination (location, intensity) and another for the affective experience of pain.

Question 41

How does touch contribute to primate social relationships?

A) Primates use touch primarily for hunting
B) Touch is irrelevant to primate social bonding
C) Gentle touch fosters social relationships by grooming
D) Touch is exclusively related to mating rituals

Answer 41

C) Gentle touch fosters social relationships by grooming
Explanation: Touch, especially gentle touch through grooming, plays a significant role in fostering social relationships among primates.

Question 42

What effects can a lack of physical contact have on infant development?

A) Positive cognitive enhancement
B) Unaltered neurodevelopment
C) Cognitive and neurodevelopmental delay
D) Enhanced motor skills development
Answer 6:

Answer 42

C) Cognitive and neurodevelopmental delay
Explanation: A lack of physical contact can lead to cognitive and neurodevelopmental delays in infants, as observed in orphanages with minimal physical interaction.

Question 43

Which fibers respond specifically to gentle stroking touch?

A) A-fibers
B) C-tactile fibers
C) C-pain fibers
D) B-tactile fibers

Answer 43

B) C-tactile fibers
Explanation: C-tactile fibers respond to gentle stroking touch and are implicated in coding specifically for the pleasantness of such touches.

Question 44

What contributes significantly to the individual experience of touch or pain?

A) Top-down influences like motivation and mood
B) Strictly genetic predispositions
C) External stimuli intensity
D) Predominantly physiological factors

Answer 44

A) Top-down influences like motivation and mood
Explanation: How an individual experiences touch or pain heavily depends on top-down factors like motivation, expectation, mood, and stress.

Question 45

What plays a critical role in how pain is perceived, modulated, and endured by individuals?

A) Blood circulation in the affected area
B) Context, motivation, and attention
C) Severity of injury
D) Body temperature changes

Answer 45

B) Context, motivation, and attention
Explanation: Pain perception and endurance are highly subjective and influenced by context, motivation, and attention, shaping how pain is experienced.

Question 46

Which brain system modulates the perception of pain based on the situation’s significance?

A) Sensory pain signaling system
B) Descending pain modulatory system
C) Pain management circuitry
D) Emotional pain processing system

Answer 46

B) Descending pain modulatory system
Explanation: The descending pain modulatory system regulates pain perception based on the situation’s significance, prioritizing actions critical for survival.

Question 47

What did Aron Ralston do to free himself from being trapped?

A) Cut off his hand
B) Snapped his arm bones
C) Removed his wristwatch
D) Brought in rescue hikers

Answer 47

B) Snapped his arm bones
Explanation: Aron Ralston broke his forearm bones to free himself from the trapped situation.

Question 48

What contributes significantly to the relief of pain, even in cases of intense suffering?

A) Distraction techniques
B) Experiencing isolation
C) Intense physical exertion
D) Complete immobilization

Answer 48

A) Distraction techniques
Explanation: Distraction techniques, like positive thoughts or activities, can significantly reduce pain even during intense suffering.

Question 49

How does the brain’s perception of pain change under different contexts?

A) Pain is consistently perceived as unpleasant regardless of context
B) Pain can become pleasant if it signifies relief from a more intense pain
C) Pain perception remains constant irrespective of emotional states
D) Pain becomes unbearable when the context changes favora

Answer 49

B) Pain can become pleasant if it signifies relief from a more intense pain
Explanation: Context can alter the perception of pain, where the same level of pain can be perceived as pleasant if it signifies relief from a more severe pain.

Question 50

What phenomenon contributes to the perception of pain even without direct personal experience?

A) Hypersensitivity
B) Empathy
C) Nociceptive modulation
D) Endorphin release

Answer 50

B) Empathy
Explanation: Individuals can experience pain vicariously through empathy, activating brain regions associated with the emotional aspects of pain when witnessing pain in others.