AP Psychology Sensation and Perception

1.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

The process by which we select, organize, and interpret sensory information in order to recognize meaningful objects and events is called

parallel processing.

perception.

accommodation.

sensation.

2.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

The detection and encoding of stimulus energies by the nervous system is called

signal detection.

synaesthesia

sensation

accommodation.

3.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

Trying to see a hidden representational image in a piece of abstract art by looking carefully at each element in the picture and trying to form an image employs which kind of perceptual process?

bottom-up processing

selective attention

retinal disparity

perceptual adaptation

4.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

Because she was listening to the news on the radio, Mrs. Schultz didn't perceive a word her husband was saying. Her experience best illustrates

gate-control theory.

choice blindness.

selective attention.

opponent-process theory.

5.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

In one experiment, most of the participants who viewed a videotape of men tossing a basketball remained unaware of an umbrella-toting woman sauntering across the screen. This illustrated

opponent-process theory.

inattentional blindness.

blind spot.

visual cliff.

6.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Although Manuel was sitting right next to his parents, he smelled a skunk minutes before they did. Apparently, Manuel has a lower ________ for skunk odor than his parents have.

accommodation level

absolute threshold

tolerance level

adaptation level

7.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which theory emphasizes that personal expectations and motivations influence the level of absolute thresholds?

signal detection theory

frequency theory

opponent-process theory

place theory

8.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

Audiotapes of soothing ocean sounds accompanied by faint and imperceptible verbal messages designed to increase a desire to lose weight best illustrate

synaesthesia.

sensory interaction.

parallel processing.

subliminal stimulation.

9.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

If the just-noticeable difference for a 10-ounce weight is 1 ounce, the just noticeable difference for an 80-ounce weight would be ________ ounce(s).

8

4

2

1

10.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Weber's law is relevant to an understanding of

absolute thresholds.

difference thresholds.

sensory interaction.

parallel processing.

11.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

The local fire department sounds the 12 o'clock whistle. The process by which your ears convert the sound waves from the siren into neural impulses is an example of

sensory adaptation.

sensory interaction.

transduction.

accommodation.

12.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The amplitude of electromagnetic waves determines the ________ of light.

absolute threshold

hue

difference threshold

brightness

13.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The amount of light entering the eye is regulated by the

iris

optic nerve

retina

lens

14.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Accommodation refers to the

quivering eye movements that enable the retina to detect continuous stimulation.

process by which the lens changes shape to focus images on the retina.

diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus.

process by which stimulus energies are changed into neural messages.

15.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which cells for visual processing are located closest to the back of the retina?

bipolar cells

ganglion cells

rods and cones

feature detectors

16.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Feature detectors

combine to form the optic nerve, which sends visual information to the brain.

are retinal cells that allow you to see in dim light and are located in the periphery of the eye.

are nerve cells in the brain's visual cortex that fire in response to specific edges, lines, and angles.

cause the lens to change its curvature in response to incoming light waves.

17.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Experiencing a green afterimage of a red object is most easily explained by

the Young-Helmholtz theory.

the opponent-process theory.

frequency theory.

the gate-control theory.

18.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

The basilar membrane is located in the

cochlea.

semicircular canal.

auditory canal.

middle ear.

19.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

The cochlea is a

fluid-filled tube that provides a sense of body movement.

specific area of the auditory cortex.

fluid-filled tube that provides a sense of upright body position.

fluid-filled tube in which sound waves trigger nerve impulses.

20.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

According to frequency theory

we hear different pitches because different sound waves cause different parts of the nerve cells in the cochlea to fire.

the rate at which impulses travel up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of the tone being heard.

high-frequency sounds trigger a wave of activity that peaks near the beginning of the basilar membrane.

frequent or prolonged stimulation of a sensory receptor causes that receptor to become less sensitive.

21.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The semicircular canals are most directly relevant to

accommodation.

the vestibular sense.

kinesthesis.

hearing.

22.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

According to the gate-control theory, a back massage would most likely reduce your physical aches and pains by causing

activation of nerve fibers in your spinal cord.

the release of adrenaline into your bloodstream.

deactivation of the pain receptors on the surface of your skin.

release of pain-killing endorphins in your muscles.

23.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

Taste and smell are both what kind of senses?

vestibular

kinesthetic

energy

chemical

24.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The convergence of parallel lines provides the distance cue known as

relative height.

linear perspective.

interposition

closure.

25.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The sequentially flashing Christmas tree lights appeared to generate pulsating waves of motion. This best illustrates

the phi phenomenon.

retinal disparity.

frequency theory.

relative motion.

26.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Renny knew the red tulip was closer to her than the yellow tulip because the red one cast a larger retinal image than the yellow one. This illustrates the importance of the distance cue known as

relative size.

interposition.

proximity.

relative height.

27.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

1. Sensation is to __________ as perception is to __________.

Recognizing a stimulus; detecting a stimulus

Detecting a stimulus; recognizing a stimulus

Interpreting a stimulus; detecting a stimulus

Seeing; hearing

28.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Given normal sensory abilities, a person standing atop a mountain on a dark, clear night can see a candle flame atop a mountain 30 miles away. This is a description of vision's:

Difference threshold

Just noticeable difference

Absolute threshold

Signal threshold

29.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is an example of sensory adaptation?

Finding the cold water of a swimming pool warmer after you’ve spent a few minutes in it

Developing an increased sensitivity to salt the more you use it in foods

Becoming very irritated at the continuous sound of a dripping faucet

All of the above are examples

30.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Wavelength is to ___________ as ___________ is to brightness.

Hue; intensity

Intensity; hue

Frequency; amplitude

Brightness; hue

31.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Nearsightedness is a condition in which the:

Lens has become inflexible

Lens is too thin

Eyeball is longer than normal

Eyeball is shorter than normal

32.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The size of the pupil is controlled by the:

Lens

Retina

Cornea

Iris

33.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is the correct order of the structures through which light passes after entering the eye?

Lens, pupil, cornea, retina

Pupil, cornea, lens, retina

Cornea, retina, pupil, lens

Cornea, pupil, lens, retina

34.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Assuming that the visual systems of humans and other mammals function similarly, you would expect that the retina of a nocturnal mammal (one active only at night) would contain:

Mostly cones

Mostly rods

An equal number of rods and cones

More bipolar cells than an animal active only during the day

35.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The brain breaks vision into separate dimensions such as color, depth, movement and form, and works on each aspect simultaneously. This is known as:

Feature detection

Parallel processing

Accommodation

Opponent processing

36.

Multiple Choice

10 sec

1 pt

The Young-Helmholtz Theory proposes that:

There are three different types of color-sensitive cones

Retinal cells are excited by one color and inhibited by its complementary color

There are four different types of cones

Rod, not cone, vision accounts for our ability to detect fine visual detail

37.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Most color-deficient people will probably:

Lack functioning red-or-green-sensitive cones

See the world in only black and white

Also suffer from poor vision

Have above-average vision to compensate for the deficit

38.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which of the following correctly lists the order of structures through which sound travels after entering the ear?

Auditory canal, eardrum, middle ear, cochlea

Eardrum, auditory canal, middle ear, cochlea

Eardrum, middle ear, cochlea, auditory canal

Auditory canal, middle ear, eardrum, cochlea

39.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The Frequency Theory of hearing is better than Place Theory at explaining the sensation of:

The lowest pitches

Pitches of intermediate range

The highest pitches

All of the above

40.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Tamika hates the bitter taste of her cough syrup. Which of the following would she find most helpful in minimizing the syrup’s bad taste?

Tasting something very sweet before taking the cough syrup

Keeping the syrup in her mouth for several seconds before swallowing it

Holding her nose while taking the cough syrup

Gulping the cough syrup so that It misses her tongue

41.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The principle that one sense may influence another is:

Transduction

Sensory adaptation

Weber’s Law

Sensory interaction

42.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is an example of sensory interaction?

Finding that despite its delicious aroma, a weird-looking meal tastes awful

Finding that food tastes bland when you have a bad cold

Finding it difficult to maintain your balance when you have an ear infection

All of the above

43.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Kinesthesis involves:

The bones of the middle ear

Information from muscles, tendons and joints

Membranes within the cochlea

The body’s sense of balance

44.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which of the following enables you to feel yourself wiggling your toes even with your eyes closed?

Vestibular sense

Sense of kinesthesis

The skin senses

Sensory interaction

45.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

The historical movement associated with the statement “the whole may exceed the sum of its parts” is:

Parapsychology

Psychophysics

Functional psychology

Gestalt psychology

46.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Which of the following illustrates the principle of visual capture?

We tend to form first impressions of other people on the basis of appearance

Because visual processing is automatic, we can pay attention to a visual image and any other sensation at the same time

We cannot simultaneously attend to a visual image and another sensation

When there is a conflict between visual information and that from another sense, vision tends to dominate

47.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

________________ processing refers to how the physical characteristics of stimuli influence their interpretation.

Top-down

Bottom-up

Parapsychological

Human factors

48.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Figures tend to be perceived as whole, complete objects, even if spaces or gaps exist in the representation, thus demonstrating the principle of:

Closure

Proximity

Continuity

Similarity

49.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Studying the road map before her trip, Colleen had no trouble following the route of the highway she planned to travel. Colleen’s ability illustrates the principle of:

Closure

Similarity

Continuity

Proximity

50.

Multiple Choice

20 sec

1 pt

Although carpenter Smith perceived a briefly viewed object as a screwdriver, police officer Wesson perceived the same object as a knife. This illustrates that perception is guided by:

Linear perspective

Shape constancy

Retinal disparity

Perceptual sets

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