Question

(q001) when we initially detect physical stimuli, such as odors, light, and sound, we call this
o a perception.
o b. sensation.
o c. absolute threshold.
o d. difference threshold.
question 2
(q002) kaylene is making pasta for her familys dinner, and has a big pot of tomato sauce simmering on the stove. kaylene tastes it and then adds salt. two minutes later she tastes it
again but it tastes the same. clearly the added salt did not exceed kaylenes _ threshold.
o a. perceptual
b. difference
o c. absolute
d. sensory
question 3
(q003) the start gun goes off to signal the beginning of the race. before the runners can interpret the meaning of the noise, however, their sensory receptors must translate the sound
waves into neural signals the brain can understand in a process called
a. synesthesia.
b. sensation.
o c. transduction.
d. perception.
question 4
(q004) carlos accidentally added an extra tablespoon of sugar into a cake batter. this probably wont matter much, although the same tablespoon of sugar would be noticeable if he
put it in his cup of tea. what explains this difference?
o a. webers law
b. sensory adaptation
o c. top-down processing
d. signal detection theory
question 5
(q005) when maria first moved to new york city, she could hardly sleep because of all the noise coming from the nearby street. but after a month or two, she stopped noticing these
noises, and now she feels like she would have a hard time sleeping in a quiet country village. what explains this change?
o a. webers law
b. bottom-up processing
o c. opponent-process theory
d. sensory adaptation

Explanation:

• Question 1: Sensation is the initial detection of physical stimuli like odors, light, and sound. Perception is the interpretation of these sensations. Absolute threshold is the minimum amount of stimulus needed to detect it. Difference threshold is the minimum difference between two stimuli to notice a change.
• Question 2: Difference threshold is the minimum difference needed to detect a change. Since Kaylene didn't notice the change in taste after adding salt, the added salt didn't exceed her difference threshold. Perceptual threshold is a more general term. Absolute threshold is for detecting a single stimulus. Sensory threshold is a broad category.
• Question 3: Transduction is the process of converting physical stimuli (like sound waves) into neural signals. Synesthesia is a condition where one sense triggers another. Sensation is the detection of stimuli. Perception is the interpretation.
• Question 4: Weber's law states that the just - noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus. In the cake batter (a large amount of ingredients), an extra tablespoon of sugar is a small proportion, while in a cup of tea (a small amount of liquid), it's a larger proportion. Sensory adaptation is getting used to a stimulus. Top - down processing is using prior knowledge. Signal detection theory is about detecting signals in noise.
• Question 5: Sensory adaptation is when the sensory system becomes less responsive to a constant stimulus. Maria got used to the city noise (sensory adaptation). Weber's law is about differences. Bottom - up processing is building perception from individual elements. Opponent - process theory is about color vision.

Answer:

1. B. sensation
2. B. difference
3. C. transduction
4. A. Weber's law
5. D. sensory adaptation