Question 1

The muscle that controls the amount of light entering the pupil is the:
A)iris.
B)cornea.
C)retina.
D)fovea.

Accepted Answer

The iris is the muscle that controls the amount of light entering the pupil by changing its size. The other options listed are not muscles that have this specific function. The cornea is a clear protective layer over the iris and pupil, the retina is the sensory tissue that lines the back of the eye and detects light, and the fovea is a small area in the center of the retina that is responsible for sharp central vision.

Question 2

Ron's eyeball is abnormally shaped, and incoming light is focused at a point behind his retina. Ron wears glasses to correct this visual condition, which is called:
A)astigmatism.
B)myopia or nearsightedness.
C)anosmia or night blindness.
D)hyperopia or farsightedness.

Accepted Answer

Ron's condition, where light is focused behind the retina, causing difficulty seeing objects up close, is known as hyperopia or farsightedness. Glasses help by adjusting the focal point onto the retina for clear vision.

Question 3

The finding that repeated exposure to a particular stimulus leads to increased liking for that stimulus is called:
A)the mere exposure effect.
B)psychokinesis.
C)perceptual constancy.
D)sensory adaptation.

Accepted Answer

The finding that repeated exposure to a particular stimulus leads to increased liking for that stimulus is called the mere exposure effect. Option B, psychokinesis, is incorrect as it refers to the alleged ability to move objects with one's mind. Option C, perceptual constancy, refers to the ability to perceive objects as unchanged despite changes in their physical appearance, which is not related to increased liking. Option D, sensory adaptation, refers to a decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time, which is also not related to increased liking.

Question 4

X-rays, radio waves, microwaves, and ultraviolet waves are all forms of _____ that differ in terms of their _____.
A)electromagnetic energy; absolute threshold
B)wavelength; intensity
C)electromagnetic energy; wavelength
D)sensation; absolute threshold

Accepted Answer

X-rays, radio waves, microwaves, and ultraviolet waves are all part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is a range of different forms of electromagnetic energy. These differing types of energy are classified by their wavelength, with X-rays having the shortest wavelengths and radio waves having the longest wavelengths. Intensity refers to the amount of energy present in these waves, and while it does vary between the wave types, it is not the primary factor that distinguishes them from one another. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 5

As you walk into an Indian restaurant, you immediately notice the delicious odors of curry, saffron, and other spices. After a few minutes, however, you no longer notice the smell. This experience is an example of:
A)the mere exposure effect.
B)sensory adaptation.
C)anosmia.
D)Weber's law.

Accepted Answer

This experience is an example of sensory adaptation, where the sensory system adjusts to a constant or repetitive stimulation and eventually stops responding. In this case, the olfactory system adapts to the continuous smell of the Indian spices, leading to a reduced perception of the odor.

Question 6

The clear membrane that covers the outside of the eye and helps gather and direct incoming light is called the:
A)pupil.
B)cornea.
C)iris.
D)retina.

Accepted Answer

The clear membrane that covers the outside of the eye and helps gather and direct incoming light is called the cornea. The other options, such as the pupil, iris, and retina, are all different parts of the eye but do not fulfill the given description.

Question 7

Jill runs a hot bath. She starts to get into the tub, but the water feels extremely hot. She stands in the hot water for a few minutes, then slowly sits down, easing the rest of her body into the water. After a few minutes, she feels quite comfortable; the water no longer feels too hot to her. This decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus that Jill has experienced is called:
A)bottom-up processing.
B)sensory saturation.
C)sensory adaptation.
D)transduction.

Accepted Answer

The decline in sensitivity that Jill experienced is known as sensory adaptation. This phenomenon occurs when the body adapts to a constant or unchanging stimulus and the sensory receptors become less responsive. A hot bath is a good example of sensory adaptation because the body initially registers the heat as overwhelming, but as time passes, the hot water becomes more tolerable as the body adapts to the sensation.

Question 8

John puts one toe into a swimming pool and shivers because the water is so cold. He grits his teeth and dives in anyway. After about ten minutes, the temperature of the water seems quite comfortable to him. This example illustrates the principle of:
A)sensory difference.
B)just noticeable difference, or jnd.
C)accommodation.
D)sensory adaptation.

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation refers to the process by which our sensitivity to stimuli decreases over time as we become used to them. In this example, John initially shivers because the water is cold, but after ten minutes he becomes accustomed to the temperature and finds it comfortable. This is a clear illustration of sensory adaptation.

Question 9

Psychologists have found that the effects of subliminal stimuli tend to be:
A)weak and short-lived.
B)weak but long-lasting.
C)fairly strong but short-lived.
D)fairly strong and long-lasting.

Accepted Answer

Psychologists have found that the effects of subliminal stimuli are typically weak and short-lived, meaning they have little to no lasting impact on behavior or attitudes. While subliminal messages may be briefly processed by the subconscious mind, they are generally not powerful enough to have a significant influence on conscious actions or thoughts.

Question 10

As you glance at the person sitting next to you in class, light reflected from the person's shirt first passes through which three structures of your eye?
A)pupil, iris, lens
B)cornea, iris, pupil
C)cornea, pupil, lens
D)fovea, iris, pupil

Accepted Answer

The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye and the first structure through which light passes. The pupil is the opening in the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye. Finally, the lens is the clear structure behind the pupil that helps to focus the incoming light on the retina. Therefore, the correct order of structures is cornea, pupil, and lens, which is only found in option C.

Question 11

As light waves enter the eye, which three structures do they pass through first?
A)pupil, iris, lens
B)cornea, iris, pupil
C)cornea, pupil, lens
D)fovea, iris, pupil

Accepted Answer

Light waves first pass through the cornea, a clear outer covering of the eye that helps to focus the light. The light then passes through the pupil, the small opening in the center of the iris that regulates the amount of light entering the eye. Finally, the light reaches the lens, which further refracts the light to focus it onto the retina at the back of the eye.

Question 12

As you walk into a brightly lit room, the black structure in the center of your eye seems to shrink to a tiny black dot. This response is caused by the action of the eye structure called the:
A)cornea.
B)lens.
C)iris.
D)retina.

Accepted Answer

The iris is the colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil. In response to bright light, the iris will contract and reduce the size of the pupil, causing the black structure in the center of the eye (the pupil) to shrink to a tiny black dot.

Question 13

When psychologists refer to the visible spectrum, they mean:
A)red, orange, and yellow light waves.
B)the visual field, including peripheral vision.
C)ultraviolet rays, gamma rays, and radio waves.
D)the narrow range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum that are visible to the human eye.

Accepted Answer

The visible spectrum refers to the narrow range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum (from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers) that are visible to the human eye, including colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Question 14

What causes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?
A)The blind spot is abnormally large or small.
B)Incoming light signals are not properly focused on the retina.
C)The iris and cornea do not function properly.
D)Accommodation does not take place.

Accepted Answer

Nearsightedness (myopia) is caused by the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved, causing incoming light to focus in front of the retina. Farsightedness (hyperopia) is caused by the eyeball being too short or the cornea being too flat, causing incoming light to focus behind the retina. Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, causing light to be focused unevenly on the retina. All of these conditions result in incoming light signals not properly focusing on the retina.

Question 15

This image depicts a cross section of the human eye. Which structure changes shape to focus incoming light? 
A)fovea
B)retina
C)lens
D)cornea

Accepted Answer

The lens is responsible for changing shape to focus incoming light onto the retina, enabling clear vision. The cornea helps to refract the incoming light, while the retina contains photoreceptor cells that convert the light energy into electrical impulses for the brain to interpret. The fovea is a small depression in the retina that contains a high concentration of photoreceptor cells for sharp, detailed vision.

Question 16

The mere exposure effect:
A)holds true for exposure to subliminal stimuli but not for exposure to nonsubliminal stimuli.
B)works when the particular stimulus presented is very familiar to the observer.
C)holds true for exposure to subliminal stimuli as well as exposure to nonsubliminal stimuli.
D)is another example of pseudoscience, much like subliminal perception.

Accepted Answer

The mere exposure effect suggests that people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. This effect holds true for both subliminal (below the threshold of conscious perception) and nonsubliminal (above the threshold of conscious perception) stimuli, indicating that repeated exposure can influence preferences even when the individual is not consciously aware of the stimuli.

Question 17

The receptor cells for vision are sensitive to what kind of stimulus?
A)light
B)heat
C)airborne molecules
D)chemical molecules

Accepted Answer

Receptor cells for vision, also known as photoreceptor cells, are sensitive to light stimuli. They absorb and respond to wavelengths of light, which trigger nerve impulses that are sent to the brain, resulting in visual perception.

Question 18

This image depicts a cross section of the human eye. Pick the alternative that correctly labels the structures in the drawing. 
A)1 = retina, 2 = lens, 3 = cornea, 4 = fovea
B)1 = cornea, 2 = lens, 3 = fovea, 4 = retina
C)1 = lens, 2 = cornea, 3 = retina, 4 = fovea
D)1 = fovea, 2 = lens, 3 = cornea, 4 = optic chiasm

Accepted Answer

1 = cornea: the clear covering of the front of the eye
2 = lens: the transparent structure behind the iris that helps to focus light onto the retina
3 = fovea: the center of the macula (a part of the retina) that contains a high concentration of cones for detailed vision
4 = retina: the innermost layer of the eye that contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that detect light and send signals to the brain

Question 19

The _____ thickens or thins to focus incoming light. This process is called _____.
A)lens; accommodation
B)iris; sensory adaptation
C)pupil; accommodation
D)pupil; sensory adaptation

Accepted Answer

The lens thickens or thins to focus incoming light, which is called accommodation. The iris controls the size of the pupil, but it does not actively adjust to focus incoming light. Sensory adaptation refers to the process by which our senses adjust to the level of stimuli in our environment, but it is not directly related to the functioning of the eye.

Question 20

The mere exposure effect refers to the:
A)view that the basilar membrane vibrates at the same frequency as the sound stimulus it is briefly exposed to.
B)fact that when people are repeatedly exposed to a novel stimulus, their liking for that particular stimulus will decrease.
C)point at which a stimulus is strong enough to be detected because it activates sensory receptors after a brief exposure.
D)finding that repeated exposure to a particular stimulus leads to increased liking for that stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The mere exposure effect refers to the finding that repeated exposure to a particular stimulus leads to increased liking for that stimulus.

Quiz 3: Section 2: Sensation and Perception

The muscle that controls the amount of light entering the pupil is the:

Ron's eyeball is abnormally shaped, and incoming light is focused at a point behind his retina. Ron wears glasses to correct this visual condition, which is called:

The finding that repeated exposure to a particular stimulus leads to increased liking for that stimulus is called:

X-rays, radio waves, microwaves, and ultraviolet waves are all forms of _ that differ in terms of their _.

As you walk into an Indian restaurant, you immediately notice the delicious odors of curry, saffron, and other spices. After a few minutes, however, you no longer notice the smell. This experience is an example of:

The clear membrane that covers the outside of the eye and helps gather and direct incoming light is called the:

John puts one toe into a swimming pool and shivers because the water is so cold. He grits his teeth and dives in anyway. After about ten minutes, the temperature of the water seems quite comfortable to him. This example illustrates the principle of:

Psychologists have found that the effects of subliminal stimuli tend to be:

As you glance at the person sitting next to you in class, light reflected from the person's shirt first passes through which three structures of your eye?

As light waves enter the eye, which three structures do they pass through first?

As you walk into a brightly lit room, the black structure in the center of your eye seems to shrink to a tiny black dot. This response is caused by the action of the eye structure called the:

When psychologists refer to the visible spectrum, they mean:

What causes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?

This image depicts a cross section of the human eye. Which structure changes shape to focus incoming light?

The mere exposure effect:

The receptor cells for vision are sensitive to what kind of stimulus?

This image depicts a cross section of the human eye. Pick the alternative that correctly labels the structures in the drawing.

The _ thickens or thins to focus incoming light. This process is called _.

The mere exposure effect refers to the: