Review Questions

1.

________ refers to the minimum amount of stimulus energy required to be detected 50% of the time.

1. absolute threshold
2. difference threshold
3. just noticeable difference
4. transduction

2.

Decreased sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus is known as ________.

1. transduction
2. difference threshold
3. sensory adaptation
4. inattentional blindness

3.

________ involves the conversion of sensory stimulus energy into neural impulses.

1. sensory adaptation
2. inattentional blindness
3. difference threshold
4. transduction

4.

________ occurs when sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced.

1. sensation
2. perception
3. transduction
4. sensory adaptation

5.

Which of the following correctly matches the pattern in our perception of color as we move from short wavelengths to long wavelengths?

1. red to orange to yellow
2. yellow to orange to red
3. yellow to red to orange
4. orange to yellow to red

6.

The visible spectrum includes light that ranges from about ________.

1. 400–700 nm
2. 200–900 nm
3. 20–20000 Hz
4. 10–20 dB

7.

The electromagnetic spectrum includes ________.

1. radio waves
2. x-rays
3. infrared light
4. all of the above

8.

The audible range for humans is ________.

1. 380–740 Hz
2. 10–20 dB
3. less than 300 dB
4. 20-20,000 Hz

9.

The quality of a sound that is affected by frequency, amplitude, and timing of the sound wave is known as ________.

1. pitch
2. tone
3. electromagnetic
4. timbre

10.

The ________ is a small indentation of the retina that contains cones.

1. optic chiasm
2. optic nerve
3. fovea
4. iris

11.

________ operate best under bright light conditions.

1. cones
2. rods
3. retinal ganglion cells
4. striate cortex

12.

________ depth cues require the use of both eyes.

1. monocular
2. binocular
3. linear perspective
4. accommodating

13.

If you were to stare at a green dot for a relatively long period of time and then shift your gaze to a blank white screen, you would see a ________ negative afterimage.

1. blue
2. yellow
3. black
4. red

14.

Hair cells located near the base of the basilar membrane respond best to ________ sounds.

1. low-frequency
2. high-frequency
3. low-amplitude
4. high-amplitude

15.

The three ossicles of the middle ear are known as ________.

1. malleus, incus, and stapes
2. hammer, anvil, and stirrup
3. pinna, cochlea, and utricle
4. both a and b

16.

Hearing aids might be effective for treating ________.

1. Ménière's disease
2. sensorineural hearing loss
3. conductive hearing loss
4. interaural time differences

17.

Cues that require two ears are referred to as ________ cues.

1. monocular
2. monaural
3. binocular
4. binaural

18.

Chemical messages often sent between two members of a species to communicate something about reproductive status are called ________.

1. hormones
2. pheromones
3. Merkel’s disks
4. Meissner’s corpuscles

19.

Which taste is associated with monosodium glutamate?

1. sweet
2. bitter
3. umami
4. sour

20.

________ serve as sensory receptors for temperature and pain stimuli.

1. free nerve endings
2. Pacinian corpuscles
3. Ruffini corpuscles
4. Meissner’s corpuscles

21.

Which of the following is involved in maintaining balance and body posture?

1. auditory nerve
2. nociceptors
3. olfactory bulb
4. vestibular system

22.

According to the principle of ________, objects that occur close to one another tend to be grouped together.

1. similarity
2. good continuation
3. proximity
4. closure

23.

Our tendency to perceive things as complete objects rather than as a series of parts is known as the principle of ________.

1. closure
2. good continuation
3. proximity
4. similarity

24.

According to the law of ________, we are more likely to perceive smoothly flowing lines rather than choppy or jagged lines.

1. closure
2. good continuation
3. proximity
4. similarity

25.

The main point of focus in a visual display is known as the ________.

1. closure
2. perceptual set
3. ground
4. figure