Question 1

We smell a rotten egg only because the hydrogen sulfide molecules in the air flow over the sensory cells in our nasal cavities. In this example, what is the distal stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The distal stimulus is the rotten egg because it is the source of the hydrogen sulfide molecules that stimulate the sensory cells in our nasal cavities.

Question 2

Research examining individuals who are supertasters suggests that this ability is __________.

Accepted Answer

Supertasting ability is believed to be genetic, with individuals having more papillae on their tongues and a higher density of taste buds.

Question 3

What is a proximal stimulus?

Accepted Answer

A proximal stimulus refers to the pattern of activity in a sensory organ (such as the retina or cochlea) that results from the presence of an external stimulus. So, option B is the correct answer.

Question 4

Which of the following is a fundamental tenet of early British empiricism?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental tenet of early British empiricism is that all knowledge is acquired through the senses.

Question 5

What is a distal stimulus?

Accepted Answer

A distal stimulus refers to an object or event in the world that is being perceived, such as a tree or a car. It is located at a distance from the perceiver and is not directly accessible to the senses.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of the senses involving touch?

Accepted Answer

The sense of touch includes pain, temperature, pressure, and tactile sensations (such as texture and vibration). Chemical sensation is not considered part of the sense of touch, but rather a separate sense known as olfaction (sense of smell) or gustation (sense of taste).

Question 7

What failing did the empiricist George Berkeley find with the idea that the proximal stimulus is the messenger that allows us to receive information from the visual world?

Accepted Answer

Berkeley argued that because the retina is a two-dimensional surface, it cannot directly inform us about the three-dimensional nature of the world. This challenges the idea that the proximal stimulus (the image on the retina) alone can provide a full account of our perception of the visual world.

Question 8

The philosophical viewpoint called empiricism takes the position that __________.

Accepted Answer

Empiricism is the philosophical position that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. This means that our senses passively receive experiences, and we learn from what we observe and experience in the world around us. Empiricists believe that we do not possess innate knowledge or ideas, but rather we acquire all our knowledge through experience. This position is in contrast to rationalism, which asserts that some knowledge is innate or derived deductively from self-evident principles.

Question 9

Which is the best analogy for how taste buds function?

Accepted Answer

Taste buds are essentially receptors that transmit chemical information to the brain about the taste of a substance. This is similar to a broadcasting service that sends messages to a receiver (in this case, the brain) about the taste of a substance.

Question 10

Which of our senses is(are) a human's most dominant sense(s)?

Accepted Answer

Vision and audition are the most dominant senses in humans.

Question 11

John Locke was once asked how a person who had been born blind, but suddenly had his vision restored, would be able to interpret the visual world. Knowing what you do about Locke's empiricist philosophy, what would you say Locke's answer was?

Accepted Answer

Locke's empiricist philosophy posits that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. Therefore, he would suggest that the person who had been blind from birth would have to learn about the visual world by experiencing it through their senses.

Question 12

Sounds in the environment enter the ear and cause a membrane in the inner ear to vibrate. In the case of audition, what does vibration of the inner ear membrane represent?

Accepted Answer

The vibration of the inner ear membrane represents the proximal stimulus, which is the immediate sensory stimulation that results from the physical energy of the sound waves entering the ear.

Question 13

What is the meaning of the phrase "tabula rasa"?

Accepted Answer

"Tabula rasa" is a Latin phrase that translates to "blank slate" in English, meaning something or someone without any preconceived notions or ideas.

Question 14

A man is looking at a tree. What is the proximal stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The proximal stimulus is the stimulus that directly impinges on an observer's sensory receptor cells. In this case, the tree is the distal stimulus (the object in the external world), but the image of the tree cast on the man's retina is the proximal stimulus.

Question 15

According to the book, a supertaster __________.

Accepted Answer

The book states that a supertaster has a significantly greater number of taste receptors than most people. The other answer choices are not accurate according to the book.

Question 16

A woman is looking at a tree. What is the distal stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The distal stimulus is the object or event in the external world that gives rise to a sensory response. In this case, the tree is the object being observed and is therefore the distal stimulus.

Question 17

The detection of the position and movement of muscles, tendons, and joints, which tell us the position and motion of our own bodies, is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Kinesethesis refers to the detection of position and movement of muscles, tendons, and joints, which enables us to sense the position and motion of our own bodies. Touch refers to the detection of pressure or contact with external objects. Pressure refers specifically to the physical force exerted on an object, while transduction refers to the conversion of physical energy into neural signals.

Question 18

Grass pollen causes some people to sneeze because of the effect of the allergen on the immune system, which treats it as a foreign invader. In this example, what is the proximal stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The proximal stimulus is the allergen, which is the substance that directly triggers the immune system's response.

Question 19

Taste and smell involve __________, while hearing and seeing involve __________.

Accepted Answer

Taste and smell are chemical senses because they transduce chemical signals from the environment into neural signals that the brain can interpret. Hearing and seeing, on the other hand, are based on transducing physical signals: sound waves for hearing and light waves for seeing.

Question 20

Which of the following senses has the strongest link to memories?

Accepted Answer

Olfaction, or sense of smell, has the strongest link to memories compared to the other senses. This is because the olfactory bulb, which processes smells, is directly connected to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and memories. Therefore, smells can trigger strong emotional memories and nostalgia.

Quiz 4: Sensation