Elementary Psych Exam 2 - Hazeltine

The process of converting a physical stimulus into a neural signal is known as:

• Perception
• Sensation
• Transduction
• Adaptation

Answer explanation

Transduction is the process by which sensory systems convert external stimuli (such as light, sound, or chemicals in taste) into neural signals that the brain can interpret

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the five basic tastes?

• Sweet
• Spicy
• Bitter
• Umami

Answer explanation

The five basic tastes are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Spiciness is not a taste but rather a sensation detected by pain receptors.

The doctrine of specific nerve energies, proposed by Johannes Müller, suggests that:

• Different sensory qualities arise from different neural structures
• All sensory information is processed in the same way by the brain
• The intensity of a stimulus determines its perception
• Sensory organs adapt over time to repeated stimuli

Answer explanation

Müller's doctrine of specific nerve energies states that perception depends on which nerves are stimulated, not how they are stimulated. This explains why different sensory modalities (e.g., vision, taste) have distinct pathways.

The labeled-line model of taste perception suggests that:

• Individual taste receptors are specialized to respond to one specific taste
• Taste perception depends on retronasal olfaction
• All taste receptors respond equally to all tastes
• Taste maps on the tongue determine how tastes are detected

Answer explanation

The labeled-line model proposes that each taste receptor is specialized for a particular taste (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or umami) and sends signals to the brain accordingly

What error led to the widespread belief in the "taste map" of the tongue?

• A misinterpretation of Müller’s research on nerve energies
• A translation mistake in a scientific text
• An incorrect experiment by Escoffier
• A misunderstanding of umami as a separate taste

Answer explanation

The idea that different regions of the tongue detect specific tastes better than others originated from a mistranslation of research. In reality, taste receptors for all five basic tastes are distributed across the tongue.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between taste and flavor?

• Taste and flavor are identical sensory experiences
• Flavor is the combination of taste and retronasal smell
• Taste relies only on the tongue, while flavor is detected in the brainstem
• Flavor is determined entirely by cultural exposure

Answer explanation

While taste is detected by receptors on the tongue, flavor is a more complex experience that includes retronasal olfaction (smells detected when air is exhaled).

What distinguishes supertasters from normal tasters and nontasters?

• Supertasters have a higher number of fungiform papillae
• Supertasters experience all five basic tastes equally
• Supertasters have more olfactory receptors
• Supertasters can taste spicy foods more intensely

Answer explanation

Research by Bartoshuk et al. found that supertasters have more taste buds (fungiform papillae), making them more sensitive to certain flavors, especially bitter tastes.

In vision, rods are primarily responsible for:

• Color vision and high acuity
• Detecting fine details in bright light
• Night vision and motion detection
• Processing facial recognition

Answer explanation

Rods are highly sensitive to light and allow us to see in dim conditions, but they do not detect color or fine details.

The dorsal processing stream in the brain is responsible for:

• Recognizing objects and faces
• Processing color and fine details
• Determining where and how objects move
• Creating illusions in visual perception

Answer explanation

The dorsal stream, also called the "where/how" pathway, processes spatial information and guides movement

The Gestalt principle that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" suggests that:

• The brain processes sensory input as isolated details
• Perception emerges from how elements are organized rather than individual stimuli
• Each neuron is responsible for recognizing a single object
• Visual perception depends entirely on the retina

Answer explanation

Gestalt psychology emphasizes that perception is based on organizing visual elements into meaningful patterns rather than just processing individual features