Unit 2 - Sensation and Perception

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the difference in eye placement between predators and prey?

Prey animals have laterally placed eyes for a wider field of view, while predators have forward-facing eyes for better depth perception. (correct)

Predators have laterally placed eyes for a wider field of view, while prey animals have forward-facing eyes for better depth perception.

Both predators and prey animals have forward-facing eyes, but prey animals have better depth perception.

Both predators and prey animals have laterally placed eyes, but predators have a wider field of view.

What is the function of the tapetum lucidum in nocturnal animals?

It produces a chemical that increases sensitivity to light in the retina.

It helps to filter out excess light, protecting the retina from damage.

It reflects light back through the retina, enhancing night vision. (correct)

It helps to focus light onto the retina, improving overall vision.

What is the primary difference between rods and cones in the retina?

Rods are responsible for detecting light, while cones are responsible for detecting color.

Rods are found in the center of the retina, while cones are found in the periphery.

Rods are more sensitive to light than cones, while cones are more sensitive to color. (correct)

Rods are responsible for peripheral vision, while cones are responsible for central vision.

How does binocular vision contribute to depth perception?

By combining the images from both eyes, the brain can calculate the distance to objects. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why do nocturnal animals tend to have superior night vision compared to diurnal animals?

Both A and C are correct. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the retinal ganglion cells?

They are neurons that transmit information from the retina to the brain. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why do prey animals typically have a larger field of view than predators?

They need to be able to see a wider area for potential threats. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the vision of horses?

Horses have laterally placed eyes, resulting in poor depth perception. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between an absolute threshold and a difference threshold?

An absolute threshold is the minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected, while a difference threshold is the minimum difference between two stimuli that can be detected. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Weber fraction?

The ratio between the intensity of a stimulus and the intensity change required for a JND. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Weber's law?

It is easier to detect a difference between two weights when lifting a heavier weight than when lifting a lighter weight. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the point of subjective equality (PSE)?

The point at which two stimuli are perceived to be the same. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the interval of uncertainty represent?

The range of stimuli that are perceived to be different. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the intensity of a stimulus affect the JND?

The higher the intensity of a stimulus, the larger the JND. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a true statement about the relationship between Weber's law and the JND?

Weber's law states that the JND is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What can we learn about an individual by measuring their JND?

We can learn about their sensitivity to a signal. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the provided text, how does the interval of uncertainty relate to the concept of distinguishing between heavier and lighter stimuli?

The interval of uncertainty represents the range of stimuli weights where the brain cannot accurately differentiate between heavier and lighter stimuli. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the size of the difference threshold and discriminative ability?

A smaller difference threshold indicates better discriminative ability. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in visual processing?

The LGN is the primary relay station for visual information from the eye to the visual cortex. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the superior colliculus contribute to visual processing?

The superior colliculus helps direct eye movements and attention towards relevant visual stimuli. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a stage in the transformation of sensations to perception?

Sensory information is processed by the motor cortex to generate a response. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the orbitofrontal cortex in sensory processing?

The orbitofrontal cortex integrates sensory information from different modalities, assisting in decision-making and assigning motivational significance. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the structuralist theory of perception propose?

Perceptions are constructed from individual elements of sensations, like building blocks. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the phenomenon of 'blindsight'?

Blindsight demonstrates that the superior colliculus is capable of processing visual information even in cases of cortical blindness. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which method of measuring absolute threshold relies on a fixed number of stimuli presented at various intensities, each stimulus being presented multiple times?

Method of Constant Stimuli (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind 'sensory exploitation'?

Animals use sensory signals that were originally important for one behavior to gain an advantage in another unrelated context. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'supernormal stimulus'?

A stimulus that is more intense than the original natural stimulus, resulting in a stronger response from the animal. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the idea that sensory systems are influenced by experience?

Young monkeys and kittens deprived of vision during the first week of life never develop normal vision. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'sensitive period' in the context of sensory development?

The period of time when an animal is most sensitive to external stimuli. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the study with cats exposed to horizontal or vertical lines demonstrate about sensory development?

Exposure to specific stimuli during early development can permanently alter the sensitivity of sensory systems. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'sensory exploitation' and 'supernormal stimulus' concepts relate to each other?

Both concepts involve animals exploiting sensory biases to create an exaggerated response. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why are sensory systems often limited in their range?

Animals need to focus their sensory attention on stimuli that are most relevant to their survival. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How can the concept of sensory development be applied to human development?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Sensory Drive Hypothesis trying to explain?

The development of divergent sensory abilities in closely related species. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Sensory Drive Hypothesis, why would sensory abilities change in a species?

Because changes in environment may make communication more or less difficult. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference in the vision of humans and dogs?

Dogs are dichromats while humans are trichromats. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Sensory Exploitation?

Female Zebra finches using white feathers for nest building. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Sensory Bias?

Artificial tails used in experiments to study the response of Paradise Whydah. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the development of different sensory abilities between species considered costly?

It requires a lot of energy to maintain these abilities. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the "visual streak" in dogs?

It is responsible for detecting movement in low-light conditions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is TRUE based on the text?

Sensory Exploitation involves the use of existing sensory structures for a different purpose. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensation and Perception

The five senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell) are crucial for processing information about the world.
Sensation is the process where senses detect stimuli and transmit them to the brain. This information is not interpreted.
Perception is the interpretation of sensory information by the brain and involves organizing and interpreting sensory information.

Sensation vs. Perception

Sensation involves sensing a stimulus, while perception involves interpreting it after the stimulus reaches the brain.
Sensory information is registered in the brain, but not interpreted during sensation, whereas perception actively organizes and interprets the sensory information.

What is it like to be a bat?

Bats use echolocation, a method of locating objects by reflected sound, to navigate and hunt.
Echolocation is a sensory ability that most humans do not possess.
Many animals besides bats use different sensory abilities (e.g., birds use earth's magnetic field, mantis shrimps use polarized light).

Why is understanding sensory systems important?

Sensory input is fundamental to all cognitive processes.
The study of sensory systems helps understand their evolution, development, and function.
Sensory systems are the first point of contact between an organism and its environment.

Evolution of Sensory Systems

Humans see colors and detect odors, but not to the same extent as animals.
Specific animals have evolved sensory adaptations for their lifestyle and respective environment (e.g., nocturnal animals have more light-sensitive rods, while other animals have excellent depth perception).
Animals that hunt (predators) and prey have different types of sensory adaptations in their vision.

Rods and Cones, Retinal Ganglion Cells

Rods and cones are the photoreceptors.
Rods provide better night vision.
Cones provide better colour vision.
Nocturnal animals tend to have more rods than diurnal animals, but often have poorer colour vision.
Retinal ganglion cells are neurons that process the information from photoreceptors.

Human vision vs. Dog vision

These numbers are approximations—reported numbers may differ.
Humans have roughly 0.7-1.5 million retinal ganglion cells and approximately 4.6 million cones.
Varying numbers exist in other species.

Sensory Systems-Adaptation

Sensory abilities can adjust in different environments.
Sensory development, function, and evolution are crucial to survival and adaptation in their environments.

Sensory Adaptation, Development, and Function

Sensory systems adapt to survive and use the best possible senses.
Animals develop their sensory functions and how they function changes.
Sensory systems generally develop after birth enabling animals to function successfully post-natally.

Sensory Detection

Sensory detection begins at sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, skin, tongue) containing sensory receptors.
Sensory receptors transmit information to the central nervous system.
Signal transduction is the conversion of sensory input into electrical signals that travel through neuronal circuits.

Sensory Processing

Information from organs is separated by modality (vision, hearing, olfaction, taste) before being sent to the brain.
This prevents information from mixing or muddling.
Information is then processed by different brain regions.

Psychophysics

Psychophysics studies the relationship between physical stimuli and our perception of them.
It involves quantitatively measuring perception.
Methods like "Method of Limits", "Method of Constant Stimuli", and "Adaptive Testing/Staircase Procedure" are used to measure absolute and difference thresholds.

Signal Detection Theory

Recognizes that detecting a stimulus is influenced by both the sensory system's sensitivity and the individual's criteria.
Includes biases, expectations, and signal presence/absence.
Accounts for the possibility that a subject may want to be more sensitive in their judgments than is possible (and not accurate).

Other Important Concepts

Absolute Threshold: The minimum intensity of a stimulus needed for detection 50% of the time.
Difference Threshold (JND): The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.
Weber's Law: The principle that the just noticeable difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion of the original stimulus value.
Dark Adaptation: The process where the eye's sensitivity to light increases in low-light conditions.

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Description

Explore the crucial differences between sensation and perception in this engaging quiz. Learn how our five senses gather information and how the brain interprets that data. Delve into unique sensory experiences, like echolocation in bats, to broaden your understanding of sensory processing.