Question 1

Tactile information regarding sensations such as pressure, pain, and warmth are sent to and processed in the

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing tactile information, including sensations such as pressure, pain, and warmth. It is located in the parietal lobe of the brain.

Question 2

The senses of gustation and olfaction are somewhat unique in that their receptors are sensitive to chemical molecules rather than to ________.

Accepted Answer

The receptors for gustation (taste) and olfaction (smell) are unique because they are sensitive to chemical molecules in the environment, unlike other sensory receptors that respond to forms of energy such as sound, light, or mechanical forces.

Question 3

The Sonic guide device, which is used to provide new "eyes" to people with blindness, utilizes the sensory principles of

Accepted Answer

The Sonic guide device uses sound waves to help people with blindness navigate their environment. It emits sound waves that bounce off objects, and the device then interprets these echoes to determine the location and distance of objects, utilizing the principle of sound localization.

Question 4

When sensory information is interpreted relative to pre-existing ideas, knowledge, and concepts then this type of processing occurs

Accepted Answer

Top-down processing involves interpreting sensory input based on pre-existing knowledge, ideas, and concepts, rather than solely on the sensory input itself.

Question 5

The chemical signals found in natural body scents that may influence behaviour in subtle ways are called

Accepted Answer

Pheromones are chemical substances produced and released into the environment by an animal, especially a mammal or an insect, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species. They play a key role in communication among animals and can influence behaviors such as sexual attraction.

Question 6

Two senses whose receptors respond to chemical molecules rather than energy forms are

Accepted Answer

Olfaction (sense of smell) and gustation (sense of taste) are the two senses whose receptors are specifically tuned to respond to chemical molecules in the environment, such as those found in food and the air.

Question 7

The tactile sensations that people are sensitive to are

Accepted Answer

Tactile sensations refer to the sense of touch, which includes sensitivity to pressure, pain, warmth, and cold. Choices B, C, and D relate to taste, vision, and hearing, respectively.

Question 8

Bottom-up processing is to top-down processing as

Accepted Answer

Bottom-up processing involves building up to a conceptual whole based on the individual elements of the stimulus, whereas top-down processing involves using expectations and prior knowledge to interpret sensory information.

Question 9

The two senses that are associated and are referred to as the "common chemical sense" are

Accepted Answer

The "common chemical sense" refers to gustation (taste) and olfaction (smell), as both senses are chemically based, detecting molecules from the environment.

Question 10

Tim placed his hand inside a cooler to grab a bottle of soda. He immediately felt that the bottle of soda was quite cold. Which type of sensory receptor provided this information?

Accepted Answer

Free nerve endings are sensory receptors that respond to pain, temperature, and touch, which includes the sensation of cold that Tim felt when he grabbed the bottle of soda.

Question 11

Robert really enjoys a good meal. Unfortunately, through the years, Robert has also enjoyed chewing tobacco and now has cancer of the tongue. After surgery in which most of his tongue is removed, Robert worries that he has lost all ability to taste food. This is an unfounded worry on Robert's part as __________.

Accepted Answer

Taste buds are not only located on the tongue but also on the roof and back of the mouth, allowing individuals who have undergone surgery on their tongue to still perceive tastes.

Question 12

Cortical implants make use of the fact that phosphenes, which are discrete flashes of light that are perceived by both blind and sighted people, are perceived when the _____________ is electrically stimulated.

Accepted Answer

Cortical implants stimulate the visual cortex of the brain to produce phosphenes, which are perceived as flashes of light. This approach bypasses the need for functional eyes or optic nerves, directly stimulating the part of the brain responsible for vision.

Question 13

The phantom limb phenomenon is caused by

Accepted Answer

The phantom limb phenomenon primarily occurs due to irritated neurons that mislead the brain into interpreting nerve impulses as if they originate from the missing limb, creating sensations that seem very real to the person experiencing them.

Question 14

The cochlear implant device overcomes nerve deafness by

Accepted Answer

Cochlear implants work by bypassing damaged hair cells in the cochlea and directly stimulating the auditory nerve, allowing individuals with nerve deafness to perceive sound.

Question 15

As you are reading this question, feature detectors in your visual system are analyzing the various stimulus components and recombining them into your perception of letters and words. This is an example of ___________ processing.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of bottom-up processing, where perception starts with the sensory input. The visual system analyzes the components of the stimuli (letters and words) from the most basic level and then integrates them into a complete perception.

Question 16

Which of our senses involves not only detection of chemicals, but also tactile and temperature receptors?

Accepted Answer

Gustation, or taste, involves the detection of chemicals through taste buds on the tongue, but it also integrates tactile (texture) and temperature sensations to create the overall experience of flavor.

Question 17

Bottom-up processing occurs when individual stimulus units are taken by the nervous system and assembled into wholes. By contrast, when sensory stimuli are interpreted relative to pre-existing knowledge or expectations then __________ processing occurs.

Accepted Answer

Top-down processing is the correct answer because it involves the interpretation of sensory input based on pre-existing knowledge, expectations, or context, rather than building up the perception from the sensory input alone, as in bottom-up processing.

Question 18

The tendency of women who live together or are close friends to become more similar in their menstrual cycles is called

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon where women who live together or are close friends experience their menstrual cycles becoming more synchronized over time is known as menstrual synchrony.

Question 19

The primary receptors for pain and temperature are specifically called

Accepted Answer

Free nerve endings are the primary receptors for pain and temperature, detecting changes and stimuli directly from the environment.

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding menstrual synchrony is true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements regarding menstrual...

Quiz 5: Sensation and Perception