Question 1

Posterior parietal cortex is considered to be
A) association cortex.
B) secondary visual cortex.
C) primary visual cortex.
D) primary cortex.
E) paleocortex.

Accepted Answer

Posterior parietal cortex is involved in processing and integrating sensory information from multiple modalities, as well as in higher-order cognitive functions such as spatial awareness, attention, and decision-making. As such, it is considered to be an association cortex.

Question 2

Color perception would be of less survival value if the color of an object
A) did not change under different illumination.
B) changed under different illumination.
C) were not a hue.
D) were not chromatic.
E) were influenced by its wavelength.

Accepted Answer

In order for color vision to have survival value, the color of each object must appear to be the same under the vastly different viewing conditions characteristic of the natural world.

Question 3

Evidence indicates that the component theory provides the best explanation of color coding at the
A) complex cell level.
B) simple cell level.
C) receptor level.
D) bipolar level.
E) retinal ganglion cell level.

Accepted Answer

The component theory proposes that different receptors in the retina are specialized for the detection of different colors, and that color perception is based on a comparison of the activity in these receptors. Therefore, the component theory applies to the receptor level of color coding.

Question 4

Posterior parietal cortex is considered to be association cortex because it receives substantial sensory input from the
A) primary visual cortex.
B) thalamus.
C) secondary areas of more than one sensory system.
D) primary motor cortex.
E) hypothalamus.

Accepted Answer

Posterior parietal cortex receives input from multiple secondary areas of sensory systems (such as visual, auditory, and somatosensory), integrating and processing this information to guide complex behaviors such as spatial awareness, attention, and decision making. While it does receive some input from the primary visual cortex and thalamus, it is mainly involved in higher-order sensory processing and not just simple sensory perception. It does not receive input from the primary motor cortex or hypothalamus.

Question 5

Which of the following colors does not exist?
A) greenish red
B) greenish blue
C) greenish yellow
D) greenish purple
E) greenish tan

Accepted Answer

Greenish red does not exist because red and green are complementary colors.

Question 6

The existence of complementary color afterimages supports
A) the opponent-process theory.
B) the component theory.
C) the trichromatic theory.
D) a hierarchical model.
E) spatial-frequency theory.

Accepted Answer

Complementary color afterimages are a phenomena where staring at one color for a prolonged period of time results in the perception of the opposite color when looking at a neutral surface. This supports the opponent-process theory, which suggests that color perception is based on three systems that produce opposite responses to different wavelengths of light: red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white.

Question 7

In his compelling demonstrations of color constancy, Land showed that a particular area of a Mondrian stayed the same color even though there were major changes in the wavelengths that it was reflecting, provided that the Mondrian was
A) illuminated.
B) illuminated by at least one wavelength.
C) illuminated by at least a low and a high wavelength.
D) illuminated by at least a low, a medium, and a high wavelength.
E) monochromatic.

Accepted Answer

Land's demonstrations of color constancy showed that a particular area of a Mondrian stayed the same color when illuminated by at least a low, a medium, and a high wavelength, even though the wavelengths that it was reflecting were changing. This suggests that our visual system takes into account the overall spectral composition of the illuminant and adjusts our perception of color accordingly.

Question 8

The opponent theory appears to provide the best explanation of color coding at the
A) bipolar level.
B) retinal ganglion cell level.
C) cortical level.
D) all of the above
E) receptor level.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The opponent theory appears to provide the...

Question 9

Recent studies of the function of primary visual cortex neurons using natural visual scenes rather than simple artificial stimuli have discovered that
A) some neurons respond only to trees.
B) some neurons respond only to color.
C) visual neurons are plastic: As a background scene changes, the way that a neuron responds to elements in its receptive field changes.
D) all of the above
E) both A and B

Accepted Answer

Recent studies using natural visual scenes have found that primary visual cortex neurons are plastic, meaning they can change the way they respond to elements in their receptive field as the background scene changes. There is no evidence to suggest that neurons respond exclusively to trees or color, making options A and B incorrect. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 10

Somehow the visual system compares the wavelengths of light reflected by adjacent areas of a visual display, and on this basis color is perceived. The cells that appear to perform this function are
A) cones.
B) dual-opponent color cells.
C) simple cortical color cells.
D) trichromatic color cells.
E) complex cortical color cells.

Accepted Answer

Dual-opponent color cells, found in the visual system, are responsible for comparing the wavelengths of light reflected by adjacent areas of a visual display. These cells respond to color in an opponent fashion, meaning that they are excited by certain wavelengths of light in one part of their receptive field and inhibited by other wavelengths in a different part of their receptive field. This comparison of spectral information allows for the perception of color.

Question 11

Pairs of colors that produce white or gray when combined are
A) achromatic.
B) chromatic.
C) complementary.
D) opposite.
E) antagonistic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pairs of colors that produce white or...

Question 12

Dual-opponent color cells
A) are found in blobs.
B) respond best when the center of their receptive field is fully illuminated with one wavelength while the periphery is fully illuminated with another.
C) have particularly high concentrations of cytochrome oxidase.
D) all of the above
E) both A and b

Accepted Answer

Dual-opponent color cells are found in blobs, respond best to contrasting wavelengths in their receptive fields, and have high concentrations of cytochrome oxidase, making all the options correct.

Question 13

According to Land's retinex theory, an object's color depends on
A) its reflectance.
B) the color of the wavelengths that it reflects.
C) the dominant color of the various wavelengths that it reflects.
D) the particular wavelengths that it reflects.
E) the interactions between complementary receptors.

Accepted Answer

Land's retinex theory proposes that an object's color perception depends on its reflectance, meaning the amount of light it reflects back to the viewer. This theory suggests that color perception is not solely determined by the wavelengths of light that an object reflects, but rather by the way that its reflectance interacts with the color processing mechanisms in the visual system.

Question 14

The main function of color constancy is to ensure that
A) lights of the same wavelength appear to be the same color.
B) lights of different wavelengths appear to be different colors.
C) lights of the same wavelength appear to be the same color, regardless of their intensity.
D) an object appears to be the same color despite changes in the wavelengths of light that it is reflecting.
E) complementary colors always look complementary.

Accepted Answer

The main function of color constancy is to ensure that an object appears to be the same color despite changes in the wavelengths of light that it is reflecting. This allows us to perceive an object as having a constant color even when viewed under different lighting conditions, such as natural daylight versus indoor artificial light.

Question 15

According to the retinex theory, the color of an object depends on
A) its reflectance.
B) the proportion of light of different wavelengths that it reflects.
C) the dominant wavelength that it reflects.
D) all of the above
E) both A and B

Accepted Answer

The retinex theory suggests that the color of an object is determined by both its reflectance (A) and the proportion of light of different wavelengths that it reflects (B). Therefore, both choices A and B are correct, making E the best choice. Choice C is incorrect as the dominant wavelength that an object reflects is not the only factor determining its color according to the retinex theory.

Question 16

The component theory and the opponent theory are theories of
A) edge perception.
B) visual illusions.
C) wavelength.
D) color vision.
E) color mixing.

Accepted Answer

The component theory and opponent theory are both related to color vision. The component theory suggests that there are three types of color receptors in our eyes that allow us to perceive different colors. The opponent theory suggests that these three types of receptors work in pairs to create perception of color, such as red/green and blue/yellow.

Question 17

The phenomenon of color constancy makes the point that
A) the perceived color of an object is not solely determined by the wavelengths of light that it reflects.
B) color is trichromatic.
C) color perception is trichromatic.
D) component and opponent processing are equal.
E) color and wavelength are the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Color constancy refers to the ability of our visual system to perceive the color of an object as relatively constant despite changes in lighting conditions. This means that our perception of color is not solely determined by the wavelengths of light that an object reflects, but also takes into account the surrounding environment and other contextual factors. Therefore, choice A is the best answer as it accurately reflects the phenomenon of color constancy.

Question 18

The trichromatic theory of color vision is
A) supported by complementary afterimages.
B) a version of the opponent-process theory.
C) supported by monochromatic colors.
D) also known as the opponent theory.
E) also known as the component theory.

Accepted Answer

The trichromatic theory of color vision is also known as the component theory because it proposes that color vision is based on the presence of three types of photoreceptors that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. This theory is supported by the fact that any color can be created by combining different amounts of red, green, and blue light.

Question 19

A peg-like, cytochrome-oxidase-rich column of dual-opponent color cells is called
A) an "on-off" color peg.
B) a blob.
C) a color field.
D) an aggregate color peg.
E) a dual-opponent peg.

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question matches the characteristics of a blob, which is a part of the primary visual cortex and contains a peg-like array of dual-opponent color cells that are rich in cytochrome oxidase.

Question 20

Prestriate cortex and inferotemporal cortex are considered to be areas of
A) primary visual cortex.
B) association cortex.
C) the parietal lobe.
D) secondary visual cortex.
E) the occipital lobe.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Prestriate cortex and inferotemporal cortex are considered...

Quiz 6: The Visual System

Posterior parietal cortex is considered to be

Color perception would be of less survival value if the color of an object

Evidence indicates that the component theory provides the best explanation of color coding at the

Posterior parietal cortex is considered to be association cortex because it receives substantial sensory input from the

Which of the following colors does not exist?

The existence of complementary color afterimages supports

In his compelling demonstrations of color constancy, Land showed that a particular area of a Mondrian stayed the same color even though there were major changes in the wavelengths that it was reflecting, provided that the Mondrian was

The opponent theory appears to provide the best explanation of color coding at the

Recent studies of the function of primary visual cortex neurons using natural visual scenes rather than simple artificial stimuli have discovered that

Somehow the visual system compares the wavelengths of light reflected by adjacent areas of a visual display, and on this basis color is perceived. The cells that appear to perform this function are

Pairs of colors that produce white or gray when combined are

Dual-opponent color cells

According to Land's retinex theory, an object's color depends on

The main function of color constancy is to ensure that

According to the retinex theory, the color of an object depends on

The component theory and the opponent theory are theories of

The phenomenon of color constancy makes the point that

The trichromatic theory of color vision is

A peg-like, cytochrome-oxidase-rich column of dual-opponent color cells is called

Prestriate cortex and inferotemporal cortex are considered to be areas of