Perception Applied QUestions

Question 1

Looking out your window, you notice a Canadian flag flapping in the breeze. What cortical area is most responsible for processing the motion of the flag?

Answer 1

secondary visual cortex

Question 2

When shown an object (e.g., a flag), Sue can describe the details of it (such as its color and motion) but cannot identify what type of object it is (such as that it is a flag). What disorder does Sue likely suffer from?

Answer 2

visual agnosia

Question 3

What visual pathway allows you to recognize which letters are in this sentence?

Answer 3

ventral stream

Question 4

Looking out your window, you notice a Canadian flag flapping in the breeze. What cortical area is most responsible for processing the colors on the flag?

Answer 4

secondary visual cortex

Question 5

At a party, Gavin ingests magic mushrooms that cause his perception to become altered. One of the things that they do is make him not be able to perceive the people dancing around him as moving continuously but instead he seems them like in a series of still frame images. What disorder have the mushrooms temporarily induced in him?

Answer 5

akinetopsia

Question 6

The famed neuropsychologist, Oliver Sacks, has always been shy around other people, in part because he has a hard time recognizing other people by sight. However, he has no problem recognizing by sight other types of objects, like pictures of different brain structures. What disorder does he likely suffer from?

Answer 6

prosopagnosia

Question 7

In one episode of Three’s Company, a former friend of Jack’s from the navy shows up during dinner and refuses to leave until Jack punches him in the face. Jack initially refuses the request because the man claims to be completely blind. However, when the blind man starts destroying items in the apartment with his cane, Jack eventually gives in and takes a swing at the left side of his head. However, the blind man is able to duck the blow and counterpunch Jack in the head. What disorder might the blind man have that could explain this ability?

Answer 7

blindsight

Question 8

If a glass of water were to accidentally get bumped and fall of the table, what visual pathway would be able to detect its direction and allow you to catch it before it hits the ground?

Answer 8

dorsal stream

Question 9

What type of patient, when asked to draw a clock, might draw only the numbers 12 to 6 or, after acknowledging that he is missing some numbers, draws all 12 numbers on only the right half of the clock face with the left half distorted or blank?

Answer 9

contralateral neglect

Question 10

While reading a novel, Raoul isn’t easily distracted by the sounds of the TV or even by his brothers’ loud arguments. What does this best illustrate?

Answer 10

selective attention