module 6.2

Question 1

What is the shape of the receptive field to which a simple cell in the primary visual cortex responds?

circle of a particular radius
circle with a hole in the middle
bar in a particular orientation
bar of a particular length

Answer 1

bar in a particular orientation

Question 2

Astigmatism refers to the:

sensitive period for development of vision.
ability to see horizontal and vertical lines.
asymmetric curvature of eyes.
inability to detect motion.

Answer 2

asymmetric curvature of eyes.

Question 3

Most neurons in the inferior temporal cortex that respond to a particular shape will be LEAST likely to respond to a:

contrast reversal.
figure-ground reversal.
mirror image.
photograph of the same shape.

Answer 3

figure-ground reversal.

Question 4

Once within the cerebral cortex, the parvocellular pathway continues as a pathway sensitive to:

details of shape.
depth.
visual memories.
movement.

Answer 4

details of shape.

Question 5

The receptive field of a receptor is the:

point at which the optic nerve exits the retin a.
axon hillock.
point in space from which light strikes the receptor.
point where light shines on, and excites, the visual cortex.

Answer 5

point in space from which light strikes the receptor.

Question 6

What is strabismus?

failure of the two eyes to focus on the same thing at the same time
a blurring of vision caused by asymmetrical curvature of the eye
stereoscopic depth perception
the ability to perceive a flashing light as if it were a moving object

Answer 6

failure of the two eyes to focus on the same thing at the same time

Question 7

Neurons whose responses indicate a particular feature of a stimulus, such as the presence of a bar, line, or edge are referred to as:

hypercomplex cells.
magnocellular cells.
feature detectors.
shape detectors.

Answer 7

feature detectors.

Question 8

Cutting the left optic nerve in front of the optic chiasm would result in blindness in ____.

the right eye
the left eye
peripheral vision of both eyes
the left visual field

Answer 8

the left eye

Question 9

According to research on visual development in animals, probably the best way to treat amblyopia is to cover:

both eyes for a few months early in life.
the strong eye for a period of time early in life.
the lazy eye for a period of time early in life.
the strong eye for a period of time during adulthood.

Answer 9

the strong eye for a period of time early in life.

Question 10

Infants with cataracts need to have surgical repair:

as early as possible.
before they begin school.
if it does not fix itself
when they are old enough to recover from surgery.

Answer 10

as early as possible.

Question 11

Cases in which individuals with cataracts have sight restored to them after many years suggest that:

most aspects of visual perception are inborn.
early experiences can have relatively permanent effects on the brain.
visual perception can be learned at any age.
experiences later in life can greatly remodel connection in the visual cortex.

Answer 11

early experiences can have relatively permanent effects on the brain.

Question 12

Magnocellular cells are to ____ as parvocellular cells are to ____.

wake-sleep cycles; movement
movement; color
detail; color
color; wake-sleep cycles

Answer 12

movement; color

Question 13

The enhancement of contrast at the edge of an object is the result of:

lateral inhibition in the retin a.
the diffraction of light from the edge’s surface.
fatigue of the rods and cones.
the color of the object.

Answer 13

lateral inhibition in the retin a.

Question 14

Kittens that are restricted to having only having one eye open at a time are similar to humans with strabismus in that:

stereoscopic depth perception fails to develop.
they are completely blind.
they can see twice as much.
they are cross-eyed.

Answer 14

stereoscopic depth perception fails to develop.

Question 15

What type of cell responds to a pattern of light in a particular orientation anywhere within its large receptive field, regardless of the exact location of the stimulus?

simple
complex
bipolar
ganglion

Answer 15

complex

Question 16

Cortical area ____ appears to be where conscious visual perception occurs.

V4
V3
V2
V1

Answer 16

V1

Question 17

In the vertebrate retina, which cells are responsible for lateral inhibition?

horizontal cells
ganglion cells
bipolar cells
glial cells

Answer 17

horizontal cells

Question 18

Where does the optic nerve send most of its information?

directly to the cerebral cortex
to the lateral geniculate
to the superior colliculus
directly to the occipital lobe

Answer 18

to the lateral geniculate

Question 19

The lateral geniculate nucleus is part of the:

cerebral cortex
superior colliculus
inferior colliculus
thalamus

Answer 19

thalamus

Question 20

Parvocellular neurons most likely receive input from:

magnocellular neurons.
rods.
bipolar cells that receive input from cones.
the periphery of the retin a.

Answer 20

bipolar cells that receive input from cones.

Question 21

Children with strabismus fail to develop:

perception of movement.
the ability to recognize faces.
stereoscopic depth perception.
any kind of depth perception.

Answer 21

stereoscopic depth perception.

Question 22

In humans, the optic nerves from the two eyes follow what pathway?

They go directly to the ipsilateral hemisphere, without contacting each other.
They go directly to the contralateral hemisphere, without contacting each other.
Half of the axons from each eye cross to the other side at the optic chiasm.
They combine to send identical information to each hemisphere.

Answer 22

Half of the axons from each eye cross to the other side at the optic chiasm.

Question 23

While light is striking a visual receptor, light begins also to strike the receptor next to it. What effect will this additional light have on the response of the first cell?

excitation
inhibition
no effect
first inhibition, then excitation

Answer 23

inhibition

Question 24

In the case of blindsight, losing conscious visual perception would most likely be associated with:

massive damage to the optic nerves.
increased olfactory perception.
enhanced visual dreams.
loss of visual imagination.

Answer 24

loss of visual imagination

Question 25

A(n) ____ cell has a strong inhibitory area at one end of its bar-shaped receptive field.

simple
complex
hypercomplex
polycomplex

Answer 25

hypercomplex

Question 26

Axons from the lateral geniculate extend to which area of the cerebral cortex?

precentral gyrus
postcentral gyrus
prefrontal cortex
occipital lobe

Answer 26

occipital lobe

Question 27

Small receptive fields are to ____ cells as large receptive fields are to ____ cells.

parvocellular; magnocellular
magnocellular; parvocellular
magnocellular; koniocellular
koniocellular; parvocellular

Answer 27

parvocellular; magnocellular

Question 28

A strong astigmatism during the first year or so of life can produce effects in the human brain similar to those found in what kinds of experiments on cats

covering one eye during the sensitive period
covering both eyes during the sensitive period
destroying individual cells by implanting electrodes
restricting visual stimulation to one particular orientation

Answer 28

restricting visual stimulation to one particular orientation

Question 29

The primary visual cortex is also known as the:

lateral geniculate nucleus.
striate cortex.
area V2.
parvocellular are a.

Answer 29

striate cortex.

Question 30

The primary visual cortex sends its information:

to the lateral geniculate nucleus.
to area V1.
to area V2.
back to the retin a.

Answer 30

to area V2.

Question 31

Which ganglion cells, if any, are located mostly in or near the fovea?

Parvocellular
Magnocellular
Koniocellular
They are all distributed equally.

Answer 31

Parvocellular

Question 32

What is one way to determine whether a given cell in the primary visual cortex is “simple” or “complex”?

the shape of its receptive field
whether its receptive field is monocular or binocular
whether it can respond equally to lines in more than one location
whether it is sensitive to the orientation of the stimulus

Answer 32

whether it can respond equally to lines in more than one location

Question 33

Stereoscopic depth perception requires the brain to detect:

amblyopia.
retinal disparity.
strabismus.
contrasting imagery.

Answer 33

retinal disparity.

Question 34

Most visual researchers suggest that area V1 neurons respond most strongly to:

spatial frequencies.
round shapes.
faces.
unfamiliar stimuli.

Answer 34

spatial frequencies.

Question 35

V1 neurons would be most strongly activated by viewing:

the letter T.
a circle.
repeating stripes on a flag.
a single bar of light.

Answer 35

repeating stripes on a flag

Question 36

If we compare the receptive fields of two simple cells in the primary visual cortex, chosen at random, in what way are they most likely to differ?

orientation (angle) of a line that they respond to
shape
whether they respond to colored light as well as white light
the size of their receptive field

Answer 36

orientation (angle) of a line that they respond to

shape

Question 37

How do the receptive fields of the inferior temporal cortex compare to those of the primary visual cortex?

They are located lower in the retina.
They are sensitive to larger, more complicated patterns.
They are smaller and more symmetrical.
They are more sensitive to identifying exact locations.

Answer 37

They are sensitive to larger, more complicated patterns.

Question 38

Blindsight refers to:

the ability to localize visual objects within an apparently blind visual field.
the ability to merge together information from your two eyes even though they do not see the exact same picture.
improved hearing and touch in blind people.
the inability to see flashing light.

Answer 38

the ability to localize visual objects within an apparently blind visual field.

Question 39

The optic nerves from the right and left eye initially meet at the:

optic chiasm.
lateral geniculate nucleus.
hypothalamus.
cerebral cortex.

Answer 39

optic chiasm.

Question 40

If a kitten is reared with one eye shut, cells in its visual cortex become sensitive to:

both eyes equally, the same as a kitten reared normally.
both eyes, both more so to the eye that has been inactive.
only the eye that has been inactive.
only the eye that has been active.

Answer 40

only the eye that has been active.

Question 41

Which of the following would most strongly excite a simple cell in the primary visual cortex?

loud sound
donut
diffuse light throughout the visual field
square picture frame

Answer 41

square picture frame

Question 42

The ability to detect movement better than color in our peripheral vision is largely due to:

magnocellular neurons in the periphery.
parvocellular neurons tightly packed in the periphery.
no cones in the periphery.
the strength of the eye muscles.

Answer 42

magnocellular neurons in the periphery.

Question 43

Which of the following has the largest receptive fields and the greatest preferential sensitivity to highly complex visual patterns, such as faces?

inferior temporal cortex
superior colliculus
lateral geniculate
striate cortex

Answer 43

inferior temporal cortex

Question 44

Cortical plasticity:

is only available in early life.
is only available later in life.
is available in early life, but greatest in later life.
is greatest in early life, but never ends.

Answer 44

is greatest in early life, but never ends.

Question 45

Once within the cerebral cortex, the magnocellular pathway continues as a pathway sensitive to:

details of shape.
depth.
visual memories.
movement.

Answer 45

movement.