Psychology Chapter on Perception and ESP

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the reticular formation?

Processing visual information

Regulating cardiovascular control (correct)

Storing long-term memories

Coordination of motor functions

Which neurons are responsible for transmitting information from the body to the brain?

Sensory neurons (correct)

Afferent neurons

Interneurons

Motor neurons

What aspect of phrenology was proven to be false?

The existence of skull shapes determining one's health

The idea that larger brain areas correspond to personality traits

The assumption that psychological traits can be inferred from head shapes

The theory that brain activity can modify skull structure (correct)

What role do interneurons play in the spinal cord?

They connect sensory and motor neurons to speed up communication. Signup and view all the answers

What method is considered more effective in assessing the structure and function of the brain?

Studying behavioral changes due to brain damage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of parapsychologists in their studies?

The investigation of phenomena beyond the five senses Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the ability to predict events before they occur through paranormal means?

Pre Recognition Signup and view all the answers

What psychological concept explains why people may ignore events that contradict their beliefs in ESP?

Illusory correlation Signup and view all the answers

What type of ESP involves reading the minds of others?

Telepathy Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding evidence presented by ghost hunters?

They tend to overlook evidence that contradicts their interpretations. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to light when it strikes a white object?

It reflects entirely. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between additive and subtractive color mixing?

Additive mixing combines light to create new colors, while subtractive mixing removes light. Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is characterized by the cornea being too long?

Myopia Signup and view all the answers

What does the pupillary reflex control in the eye?

The amount of light entering the eye Signup and view all the answers

What role does the optic nerve play in vision?

It transports visual signals to the brain. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the visual information from the left visual field travel in the brain?

To the right hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

Which type of photoreceptors are more numerous in the retina?

Rods Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the lens of the eye when focusing on near objects?

It becomes fat and contracted. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) represent?

The smallest detectable change in a stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for calculating JND according to Weber's Law?

JND = (K)(I) Signup and view all the answers

What does Signal Detection Theory help to evaluate?

How stimuli are detected under varying conditions Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Signal Detection Theory, what does the term 'signal' refer to?

The stimulus desired to be perceived Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of 'd-prime' in Signal Detection Theory?

It is a measure of stimulus salience Signup and view all the answers

What can affect the results of a polygraph examination?

The criteria set by the examiners Signup and view all the answers

How is perception fundamentally defined?

The brain's analysis of raw sensory information Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the ability to detect a signal as background noise increases?

Sensitivity to the signal decreases Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of transduction in the sensory process?

To convert external energy into a language the neurons can understand Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during sensory (neural) adaptation?

Initial detection of a stimulus leads to a gradual decline in responsiveness Signup and view all the answers

What does the absolute threshold refer to in psychophysics?

The lowest level of stimulus required to detect a change at least 50% of the time Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of sense receptors?

They are specialized cells responsible for transducing specific stimuli Signup and view all the answers

How does sensory adaptation benefit organisms?

It allows organisms to ignore constant stimuli and respond to new stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between sensation and perception?

Sensation refers to the mechanical detection of stimuli; perception refers to the interpretation of those stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What can cause an organism's responsiveness to a stimulus to return after adaptation?

The introduction of a new or different stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What does psychophysics primarily study?

The effect of physical characteristics of stimuli on human perception Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of proximity suggest about how we perceive objects?

Objects close to each other are perceived as a single group. Signup and view all the answers

Which monocular cue explains why distant objects appear smaller than those that are nearby?

Relative size Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines the closure principle in Gestalt psychology?

Objects appear complete even if they are not. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by binocular disparity in depth perception?

The comparison of visual information from both eyes. Signup and view all the answers

How does the principle of symmetry affect our perception of objects?

Symmetrical objects are viewed as unified wholes. Signup and view all the answers

What does motion parallax refer to in depth perception?

The way moving objects appear to change speed depending on distance. Signup and view all the answers

Which monocular cue relies on the use of light and shadow to convey three-dimensionality?

Light and shadow Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of figure-ground segregation involve?

The separation of elements into distinct foreground and background. Signup and view all the answers

What is binocular convergence used to estimate?

An object's distance based on eye muscle activity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Nervous System

Composed of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
CNS includes the brain, spinal cord, optic nerve, and retina
PNS includes everything else
Autonomic nervous system is involuntary; regulates emotions along with the limbic system
- Sympathetic → fight or flight
- Parasympathetic → rest and digest
Somatic relays information between the CNS and the rest of the body
The brain is comprised of neurons and glial cells. Neurons rely on oxygen and glucose to survive.
- Stroke can starve the brain of oxygen, causing neurons to die
- There are four different types of glial cells.

Neurons

Dendrites are tapered extensions for collecting impulses from axons
Cell bodies contain organelles like the nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria needed for manufacturing
The axon allows the neuron to translate genetic instructions into proteins
Nodes of Ranvier help regenerate the signal, and myelin (white matter) acts as a protective coat for speeding impulses
- Multiple sclerosis involves degraded myelin
Axon Terminals ("presynaptic terminals" or "vesicle filled apposition") are the end of an axon
Unipolar neurons have a single process extending off the soma, common in invertebrates
Bipolar neurons have two processes extending from the soma
Multipolar neurons are the prevalent neuron in vertebrates with many processes extending from the soma

Synapses

Synapses occur between dendrites and axon terminals
Synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters from the presynaptic membrane into the synaptic cleft
These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane (usually dendrites or muscle cells)
If neurotransmitters cannot bind, they "float around" with no effect

Impulses/Action Potentials

Impulses are electrochemical reactions
Neurotransmitters open sodium channels, increasing voltage (potential energy)
Absolute refractory period → no new action potentials
Relative refractory period → can have action potentials but it requires stronger depolarization

Signals During Synapses

Postsynaptic potential → positive shift in membrane potential
Excitatory PSP → increases the likelihood of an action potential
Inhibitory PSP → decreases the likelihood of an action potential

Neurotransmitters

Reuptake: Neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic membrane
Are chemical messengers in the body
- Small molecule neurotransmitters: Glutamate, GABA, Monamines (Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin); Acetylcholine
- Large molecule neurotransmitters: Neuropeptides (Endorphins)
- Agonists mimic the action of a neurotransmitter
- Antagonists block the action of a neurotransmitter

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in psychology related to perception, the brain's structure and function, and extrasensory perception (ESP). Questions delve into the workings of the reticular formation, the role of various neurons, and the historical context of parapsychological studies. Test your understanding of these fascinating topics!