Unit 4: Sensation & Perception

1. After constant exposure to a stimulus, our nerve cells fire less frequently. This can be explained by which of the following?

• Weber's law

• Sensory adaptation

• Signal detection

• Absolute threshold sensitivity

• The Phi phenomenon

2. The ability of the human visual system to barely detect a candle flame at a distance of about 30 miles on a clear, dark night is an example of

• absolute threshold

• difference threshold

• just noticeable difference

• Weber's Law

• sensory adaptation

3. The semicircular canals, located in the inner ear, provide important information about the

• Apparent distance of sound

• Air pressure of the surrounding areas

• Body’s posture and head position

• Frequency of sound waves

• Amplitude of sound waves

Which of the following is true of about rods and cones?

• Rods facilitate black-and-white vision and cones facilitate color vision.

• Both rods and cones are most concentrated at the periphery of the retina.

• Both rods and cones are most concentrated at the blind spot of the retina.

• Rods and cones are distributed evenly throughout the retina.

• Rods are more useful than cones for perception in well-lit areas.

The Gate Control Theory attempts to explain how

• The brain analyzes patterns by analyzing changes in brightness over broad areas

• Filtering of excess information results in reduced responses to constant stimulation

• The nervous system blocks or allows pain signals to pass to the brain

• Differing regions of the tongue are more sensitive to different tastes

• Chemicals released by one animal can shape the behavior of a second animal of the same species

In vision, transduction occurs within the

• Optic nerve

• Visual Cortex

• Retina

• Lens

• Cornea

After staring at a green, black, and orange “American flag” for about a minute, an individual will see a red, white, and blue flag afterimage. Which of the following explains this phenomenon?

• Trichromatic theory

• Opponent-process theory

• Retinex theory

• Color constancy

• Convergence

People who are color blind most likely have deficiencies in their

• Rods

• Cones

• Lens

• Optic Nerves

• Occipital Lobe

Martin fell off his skateboard and badly bruised his elbow. He immediately began rubbing the area around the bruise until the pain subsided. This method of reducing pain can be explained by which of the following?

• Gate-control theory

• Opponent-process theory

• Trichromatic theory

• Expectancy theory

• Phantom pain

The perceived pitch of a tone is largely determined by its

• Loudness

• Timbre

• Amplitude

• Complexity

• Frequency