Midterm Questions Flashcards
A threshold can be defined arbitrarily as some particular level on a frequency-of-seeing curve. The form of such a curve would probably be described as:
a. step function
b. logarithmic
c. u-shaped
d. s-shaped
e. bell-shaped
d. s-shaped
curve is also known as an ogive and represents a cumulative probability distribution
An observer continually varies the intensity of one light up and down until its brightness matches that of a second light. This is an example of the utilization of the psychophysical method of:
a. limits
b. constant stimuli
c. adjustment
d. staircase
c. adjustment
simplest and most direct way to estimate thresholds
Signal-detection theory is useful in the analysis of psychophysical threshold data because:
a. observer’s noise level can be determined
b. sensitivity is not confounded by response criterion
c. observers can discriminate between responses due to signal or noise
d. an observer’s threshold is independent of the response criterion
b. sensitivity is not confounded by response criterion
experimentor can manipulate the inherent bias
A fundamental assumption made in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is:
a. noise, and signal + noise distributions are Gaussian
b. both distributions have same variance
c. the distributions could overlap
d. response is determined by where criterion line is set
e. all of the above
e. all of the above
If Steven’s law is plotted in log-log coordinates, we can determine the power as the value of:
a. x-intercept
b. y-intercept
c. slope
d. curvature
e. peak position
c. slope
forms a straight line with p = slope
The psychophysical method that gives the most stable data is:
a. constant stimuli
b. staircase
c. limits
d. adjustment
e. forced choice
a. constant stimuli
considered the most accurate psychophysical method
In an ROC curve, the d’ = 0 line:
a. represents complete overlap of the noise (N) and signal + noise (S+N) distribution
b. implies that the N and (S+N) distributions have different variances
c. implies that the N and (S+N) distributions are infinitely far apart
d. implies that no noise distribution is present
a. represents complete overlap of the noise (N) and signal + noise (S+N) distribution
d’ line represents the distance between the means of the noise and the signal + noise distributions, so if this equals zero the two distributions completely overlap
Let us assume that two observers require different levels of stimulation for a 50% threshold response. Which of the following conclusions is valid?
a. one observer may be more willing to say “yes” than the other
b. one observer is more sensitive than the other
c. one observer is more cautious than the other
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
According to signal-detection theory:
a. as the hit rate goes up, the false-alarm rate goes up
b. as the hit rate goes up, the false-alarm rate goes down
c. as the hit rate goes up, the correct reject rate goes up
d. as the hit rate goes up, the miss rate goes down
a. as the hit rate goes up, the false-alarm rate goes up
If the criterion line is set at a low level of excitation:
a. the hit rate goes up
b. the miss rate goes up
c. the false-alarm rate goes up
d. a and c
e. b and c
d. a and c - the hit rate goes up and the false-alarn rate goes up
In a psychophysical experiment, how can you correct for guessing?
a. use the forced-choice method
b. make an assumption about the guess rate
c. use the method of constant stimuli
d. use random-catch trials
d. use random-catch trials
catch trials are trials in which either a stimulus that should not be detected or should be detected are shown
Variability in measured thresholds can be due to:
a. subject’s alertness/attention level
b. pscyhological bias
c. random fluctuation in both stimulus and the neural system
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
For a five-alternative forced-choice experiment, what is the percentage used to determine the threshold?
a. 50%
b. 20%
c. 25%
d. 75%
b. 20%
100/5 = 20%
At suprathreshold levels, what is the relation between stimulus intensity and magnitude of sensation?
a. Weber’s law
b. Law of unvariance
c. Fechner’s law
d. Law of Malus
c. Fechner’s law
S = klog I
s = magnitude of sensation
I = stimulus intensity
k = constant
When measuring absolute thresholds, we must take into account:
a. dark light
b. ovserver’s adaptation state
c. pupil image
d. guess rate
a. dark light
represents noise in the visual system, responsible for the limit set on absolute threshold
The psychometric function is really a(n):
a. linear function
b. cumulative probability distribution
c. ogive
d. b and c
d. b and c - cumulative probability distribution, ogive
In ROC analysis, we plot:
a. hit rate versus miss rate
b. hit rate versus correct-reject rate
c. false-alarm rate versus correct-reject rate
d. hit rate versus false-alarm rate
d. hit rate vs false-alarm rate
- Which of the following curves respresents the probability of photon catch as a function of wavelength?
a. frequency-of-seeing curve
b. luminosity function
c. an ogive
d. Poisson distribution
b. luminosity function
luminosity refers to the luminous effect, based on photon catch of radiant energy
- The patient makes a classic intensity-difference discrimination in:
a. kinetic perimetry
b. dark adaptometry
c. static perimetry
d. the color lantern test
c. static perimetry
patient must detect a test target against a constant background luminance
- To hasten dark adaptation, the final briefing of pilots about to fly at night is held in a room illuminated by:
a. red light
b. green light
c. white light
d. blue light
a. red light
red light has little to no effect on the photopigment in the rods, so the rods can being dark adaptation in the presence of red light
- The background is 100 cd/m2 and a central stimulus spot has to be 12 cd/m2 brighter than the background to be just visible. The background is now increased to 150 cd/m2. Which of the following would you use to determine the stimulus spot brightness now necessary for threshold detection?
a. Ricco’s law
b. Weber’s law
C. Fechner’s law
d. Bloch’s law
b. Weber’s law
sets forth that a constant proportional relation exists betweent the increment threshold and the background luminance
- If the period of preadaptation is extended, what is the extended change in the dark-adaptation recording?
a. the secondary portion of the curve will be larger
b. the kink in the recording will be earlier
c. the initial portion of the curve will be larger
d. the total amount of adaptation recorded will be less
c. the initiation portion of the curve will be larger
longer preadaptation period increase light adaptation and renders the initial (cone) portion of the dark adaptation curve more prominent
- Which of the following is true for complete temporal summation (flash duration less than the critical duration)?
a. the longer the flash, the more total quanta needed for threshold
b. the effects of quanta delivered early in the critical period are less than those delivered later
c. the effects of all quanta delivered during the critical period sum
d. within the critical period, the shorter the flash, the more quanta needed for threshold
c. the effects of all quanta delivered during the critical period sum
- You are attempting to measure the smallest amount of light necessary to stimulate the rods so that light is perceived. What color should the fixation stimulus be to affect minimally the rods to be tested?
a. red
b. blue
c. white
d. green
a. red
when the fixation light is red, it permits the subject to fixate as the cones are well stimulated, and the rods are insensitive to red
20.The maximal change in pupil size can account for about how much dark adaptation?
a. 3 log units
b. 1 log unit
c. 8 log units
d. none
b. 1 log unit
the smallest possible pupil is 2 mm and teh largest is 8mm - difference betweent the two is approx. 1 log unit
- When dark adaptation is measured strictly foveally with a red light:
a. the kink in the curve occurs sooner
b. no kink appears
c. the total amount of threshold decrease is the same as when dark adaptation is measured peripherally
d. the kink appears later than usual
b. no kink appears
when dark adaptation is measured foveally with a red light, the rods play no role and only the initial cone branch results