Week 1: Psychophysics & Synesthesia

Which is the closest description of an "Umwelt"?

• A plumber has plumbing tools, a painter has painting tools, etc.

• A dancer moves faster or slower depending on the music's tempo

• A person chooses what hat to wear depending on the weather that day

• A plant will only grow bigger if it has enough sunlight and nutrients

This is a "Necker Cube". Which is the correct way to view it? (hint.. more than one correct answer)

• 
• 
• Neither

"I think, therefore I __"

• amn't

• perceive

• thought

• am

What is the relationship between detection and perception?

• perception and detection rely on each other

• detection relies on perception

• perception relies on detection

• no relationship

What is the purpose of the "homunculus man" model?

• visual depiction of what parts of the body use the most energy on average

• for fun

• visual depiction of what we'd look like if we grew up in zero-gravity space

• visual representation of the weighted sensory input in the brain

Which would be considered a form of synesthesia?

• Driving past the fire station and remembering you left the oven on (oh no!)

• Smelling vanilla any time you read the number "12"

• using a mnemonic (memorization technique) to learn the US states & capitals for a test

• yawning when you see someone else yawn

what is psychophysics? what does the field investigate?

• studies the relationship between physical / external stimuli and the perceptions they contribute to

• now-debunked concept that you can learn how to move objects with your mind

• studies how people can visualize 3-D concepts in their mind

• studies how brain functions turn into actions such as walking or speaking

What does Fechner's Law describe?

• As the stimulus intensity increases, the perceived intensity increases in a 1-to-1 fashion

• As the stimulus intensity increases, the perceived intensity increases independently of it

• As the stimulus intensity increases, the perceived intensity increases less quickly

• As the perceived intensity increases, the stimulus intensity increases less quickly

What is a perceptual threshold?

• When a stimulus intensity is below a certain point, the brain won't perceive it instead of perceiving it as the small amount that it is

• When a stimulus intensity is above a certain point, the brain won't perceive it instead of perceiving it as the large amount that it is

• The amount of intensity of a stimulus for the brain to perceive it rather than simply detect it

• The range of stimuli a sensory organ can pick up on

Answer explanation

For my math lovers out there: How and why would a perceptual threshold relate to a vertical line on the graph of Fechner's Law?

If a tree falls in the forest and none are around to hear it... does it make a sound?

• it sure does!

• no way!

• it depends..

• trick question- nice try!

Answer explanation

The question being philosophical means the answer is what you make of it, don't worry (-: