1NN3-Week 9-Form Perception

Which of the following situations is most likely utilizing the Gestalt principle of proximity? A) A group of differently coloured flowers that is segregated from other groups of flowers is likely to be grouped together. B) A field of evenly spaced corn stalks is likely to have the row closest to the viewer grouped together. C) A group of Canadian geese flying south is likely to be grouped together as it passes by another group headed southwest. D) A white wire crossing behind and in front of other wires is likely to be grouped together as being one.

A) A group of differently coloured flowers that is segregated from other groups of flowers is likely to be grouped together.

Which of the following is a valid conclusion from experiments examining the composite face effect? A) Faces are processed holistically because information in one half of the face interferes with our ability to focus exclusively on features contained in the other half. B) Faces are processed holistically because composite faces are rated as more attractive than individuals. C) Faces are processed featurally because individual contrasting features are the predominant source of information within a composite face image. D) Faces are processed holistically because upside down faces provide less information to visual processing areas in the cortex than upright faces.

A) Faces are processed holistically because information in one half of the face interferes with our ability to focus exclusively on features contained in the other half.

What does topographical organization of the visual cortex refer to? A) Different areas of the brain correspond to different processing streams. B) Adjacent areas of the cortex process adjacent information from a visual scene. C) Certain parts of the brain process different characteristics of a visual scene. D) The ability of the frontal lobe to store a neural map of a particular visual scene.

B) Adjacent areas of the cortex process adjacent information from a visual scene.

Pasquale is driving in his car and notices a sign in the distance. Assume that he can tell from the shape and colour that it is likely a stop sign. He is even able to make out the word "stop" despite the fact that the majority of the letters have segments that have been worn away. How was Pasquale able to correctly identify the sign as a stop sign? A) He utilized top-down processing when analyzing colour and shape and the gestalt principle of continuity. B) He utilized bottom-up processing when analyzing colour and shape and the gestalt principle of closure. C) He utilized top -down processing when analyzing colour and shape and the gestalt principle of closure. D) He utilized bottom-up processing when analyzing colour and shape and the gestalt principle of continuity.

B) He utilized bottom-up processing when analyzing colour and shape and the gestalt principle of closure.

Spot is a dog with microelectrodes recording from cells in his cortex. As Spot stares straight ahead, a Frisbee is tossed back and forth across his field of vision. The electrodes pick up signals from certain neurons whenever the Frisbee flies across Spot's field of vision, except for when it reaches the far right edge of his receptive field. Which cell type is being recorded? A) Simple cells. B) Hypercomplex cells. C) Horizontal cells. D) Complex cells.

B) Hypercomplex cells.

Marge has just encountered a new object in her visual world. She has never seen this object before. According to the template-matching model, which of the following statements is correct? A) Marge will match the object to a template of something similar in order to identify the new object. B) Marge will be unable to compare this object to a template as she has had no experience with it in the past. C) Marge will classify the object based on the "family resemblance" between the object and a template. D) An exact match will be found for the object so that Marge is able to classify the object correctly.

B) Marge will be unable to compare this object to a template as she has had no experience with it in the past.

According to the form perception web module, which of the following statements is correct? A) Location constancy is the ability of the brain to adjust for changes in perspective. B) Size constancy is the ability of the brain to adjust for changes in distance. C) Shape constancy is the ability of the brain to perceive changes in the shapes of objects. D) Colour constancy is the ability of the brain to adjust for changes in amplitude.

B) Size constancy is the ability of the brain to adjust for changes in distance.

Which of the following is true regarding Biederman's Geon theory of object recognition? A) Geon theory can explain why there are category-specific losses in object recognition. B) We are able to recognize some objects that do not have a geon combination that fits the object's shape. C) There are a total of 46 different geons, or simple geometrical forms, that can be used to identify 150 million different objects. D) When we are confronted with a novel stimulus, we can create new geons that can help us recognize the object.

B) We are able to recognize some objects that do not have a geon combination that fits the object's shape.

Which of the following correct matches the theory of object recognition with a criticism of that theory? A) Recognition-by-Components Theory has difficulty explaining how partially covered objects can still be recognized. B) Template Matching Theory has difficulty representing many natural objects that have subtle variations in features. C) Template Matching Theory has difficulty explaining the role of top-down processing in interpreting ambiguous stimuli. D) Recognition-by-Components Theory has difficulty accounting for view invariant object recognition.

C) Template Matching Theory has difficulty explaining the role of top-down processing in interpreting ambiguous stimuli.

Haley runs an experiment and finds that, when participants are shown a picture of a chair, they are faster to categorize it as a piece of furniture than they are when shown a cupboard. Based on this information, which of the following statements is correct? A) The experiment provides support for both template and prototype theories, as more frequent exposure to chairs than cupboards would lead to more templates with which to compare the chair and would make the prototype of the category furniture more closely resemble a chair. B) The experiment provides support for prototype theory, as most people are more frequently exposed to chairs than they are to cupboards, giving them many examples with which to compare the chair and, thus, faster categorization. C) The experiment provides support for template theory, as more frequent exposure to chairs than cupboards should lead individuals to have a stronger template for chairs than for cupboards. D) The experiment provides support against geon theory, as both chairs and cupboards have a similar number of geons and should be categorized at similar rates.

CA: A Correct! This experiment provides support for both template and prototype theories, as the faster categorization of a chair could be attributed to a greater number of templates or a prototype resembling a chair.

Which of the following is true regarding Biederman's geon theory of object recognition? A) We are able to recognize complex objects that are not made up of geons. B) Geon theory can explain why there are category-specific losses in object recognition. C) There are a total of 32 different geons, or simple geometrical forms, that can be used to identify 150 million different objects. D) When we are confronted with a novel stimulus, we can create new geons that can help us recognize the object.

CA: A Correct! Some things, like faces or crumpled paper, do not have a readily apparent geon combination. Yet we are still able to easily identify these objects.

Which of the following is correct regarding the manipulation of perceptual constancies as part of the Ames room illusion? A) The Ames room manipulates size constancy, because a smaller image on the retina usually equates to a further distance. B) The Ames room manipulates colour constancy, using the colours of the walls and windows to manipulate the perceived shape of the room. C) The Ames room manipulates location constancy, causing people to perceive the two individuals in the opposite corners of the room as being at different distances, even though they are actually at the same distance. D) The Ames room manipulates shape constancy, causing people to perceive the room to be trapezoidal when it is actually rectangular.

CA: A Correct! The Ames room manipulates size constancy. Since the room appears rectangular in shape, it is assumed that a smaller individual must be a farther distance away.

As presented in live lecture, which of the following best explains the hollow mask illusion? A) Configural processing dominates over featural processing, but only when faces are presented inverted. B) Top-down processing biases perception toward the interpretation of a three dimensional face, but only when faces are presented upright. C) Top-down processing biases perception toward the interpretation of a three dimensional face, but only when faces are presented inverted. D) Bottom-up processing biases perception toward the interpretation of a three dimensional face, but only when faces are presented upright.

CA: B

When shown a set of flash cards, which of the following situations illustrates normal visual development in an infant? A) At 3 months of age, Maggie preferred to look at the attractive face just as much as the unattractive face. B) At 3 months of age, Lela preferred to look over the entire face of a stranger instead of looking at one particular feature. C) At 3 months of age Luke preferred to look at only one corner of each of the complex shapes he was presented with . D) A newborn, Rickie preferred to look checkerboards with small squares that seem to blend together rather than large-squared patterns.

CA: B Correct! By 3 months infants should prefer to scan entire objects as opposed to single features. Furthermore, by 3 months, infants no longer prefer the periphery of a face, but they begin to explore the features that are more central, such as eyes and nose.

Which of the following is correct regarding visual agnosia? A) An individual suffering from object agnosia would be able to name an object they are looking at, but would be unsure of the function of the object. B) Individuals suffering from prosopagnosia are unable to recognize faces because they cannot integrate the individual features of a face. C) Individuals suffering from object agnosia typically have difficulty processing objects of particular colours. D) Individuals suffering from prosopagnosia have absolutely no method with which to identify people they know, as they are unable to process faces.

CA: B Correct! Individuals with prosopagnosia are able to identify individual features of a face, but are unable to integrate them together.

Gordon is asked by his wife to pick up some oranges from the store. While at the store, he is unable to locate the oranges and tells his wife that the store must be sold out. His wife is concerned that something is wrong with Gordon, as he has been unable to locate both apples and watermelons in the past. Which of the following best explains Gordon's behaviour? A) He has suffered damage to his dorsal stream. B) He has suffered damage to his extrastriate cortex. C) He has suffered damage to his primary visual cortex. D) He is suffering from prosopagnosia.

CA: B Correct! It is likely that Gordon experienced damage to the extrastriate cortex, resulting in visual agnosia. In this case, Gordon's visual agnosia involves the recognition of fruit.

Which of the following correctly describes a Gestalt principle? A) The principle of common fate allows objects that are used for similar purposes to be grouped together. Correct Response B) The principle of similarity states that objects sharing physical properties tend to be grouped together. C) The principle of proximity states that shapes located close together in the visual field are processed in nearby areas of the visual cortex. D) The principle of continuity states that people tend to perceive shapes that have gaps in them as a single, continuous shape.

CA: B Correct! The principle of similarity states that objects that are physically similar are grouped together.

Which of the following statements regarding form perception is correct? A) The law of Pragnanz states that we have a bias to process the most complex information before the simpler information in a scene. B) Early Gestalt psychologists argued that we have a bias to organize things into the simplest organization. C) Object identification is strictly a bottom-up process that does not make use of preexisting knowledge or information. D) According to the prototype model, we identify objects based on exact matching to a stored prototype.

CA: B Correct! This is otherwise referred to as the law of Pragnanz.

In describing the organization of the temporal cortex, which of the following is true? A) Layers respond to different categories, and columns interpret the features within a category. B) Neurons in the temporal cortex respond to more complex stimuli than neurons in primary visual cortex. C) Information regarding the shape, structure, and form of the object enters via the dorsal stream D) Columns are arranged parallel to the surface of the cortex, while the layers extend perpendicularly.

CA: B Correct! Neurons in the temporal cortex respond to stimuli, such as hands, faces, apples, and chairs that are more complex than the stimuli in the visual cortex.

Danni was born with underdeveloped retinas but underwent a retinal transplant, giving her sight for the first time at 9 months old. Which of the following is most likely true regarding her visual capabilities? A) Danni will have severe, but temporary, detriments to her ability to perceive her surrounding environment. B) Danni will be permanently unable to recognize a face presented to her as being her father. C) Danni will have severe and permanent detriments to her ability to perceive her surrounding environment. D) Danni will be temporarily unable to see objects clearly, but her vision will improve to normal levels.

CA: C Correct! As studies with kittens have shown us; however, individuals deprived of sight for more than a week during infancy will suffer severe and permanent visual degeneration.

Mick is reading a book about horses while he and his family travel by train. Mick looks up from his book and sees a tiny horse through his window. When his brother looks out the window, he sees that the animal is, in fact, a cow far off in the distance. Why did Mick perceive the animal to be a tiny horse? A) Misapplication of size constancy; influence of bottom-up processing B) Misapplication of shape constancy; influence of bottom-up processing C) Misapplication of size constancy; influence of top-down processing D) Misapplication of shape constancy; influence of top-down processing

CA: C Correct! In this case, Mick is misapplying size constancy. He is not accounting for the distance between himself and the animal and therefore assumes that because the animal is forming a small image on his retina, it is because the animal itself is tiny. Additionally, it is likely that he mistakes the cow for a horse because of the influence the book has on his perception. This is an example of top-down processing where expectations can influence your perception.

Which of the following is false regarding visual agnosias? A) Object agnosia can involve an inability to perceive objects. B) Prosopagnosia can result in an inability to recognize specific, meaningful objects. C) Object agnosia can result in an inability to read names of objects. D) Prosopagnosia is described as an inability to perceive the face that the features comprise.

CA: C Correct! Object agnosia is described as an inability to perceive objects. Individuals with object agnosia are still able to read, showing us that recognizing words involves different brain mechanisms than perceiving objects.

Which of the following provides evidence of a sensitive period for visual development? A) Children with cataracts show a diminished ability to perceive objects, patterns, and details when the cataracts remain in their eye. B) Kittens placed in the dark for a month show increased ability to hear sounds when returned to the normal environment. C) Kittens placed in the dark for a week show diminished ability to perceive objects when returned to the normal environment. D) Cats raised in an environment that has vertical stripes show increased ability to perceive vertical stripes in a normal environment.

CA: C Correct! The time spent in the dark environment interfered with normal visual development, resulting in a diminished ability to function in a normal environment. This indicates that the time in which the cat was placed in the dark environment was during the kitten's sensitive period of visual development.

You have inserted a microelectrode into a dog's primary visual cortex and are recording the number of action potentials. Which pattern of response would most accurately describe the activation of a complex cell? A) Action potentials are most frequent when a bar of light is moved while being maintained at a consistent angle within the visual field. B) Action potentials decrease in frequency when the inhibitory region of the bar of light is shifted to outside of the receptive field. C) Action potentials decrease in frequency when a horizontal bar of light is shifted within the visual field to the right. D) Action potentials are most frequent when the orientation and location of the bar of light remain are randomly changed.

D) Action potentials are most frequent when the orientation and location of the bar of light remain are randomly changed.

Which of the following statements regarding the recognition-by-components theory is correct? A) A weakness of the theory is that slight changes in lighting conditions make it difficult to discern geons necessary for object identification. B) A weakness of the theory is that it fails to explain how we are able to identify novel examples of objects. C) One of the strengths of the theory is its ability to accurately depict how we are able to identify natural objects. D) Incoming sensory information is compared directly to a representation or copy stored in long-term memory.

TA: B Incorrect. The recognition-by-components theory explains how moderately occluded and novel objects are successfully recognized by the visual system. Rather, a weakness of the recognition-by-components theory is that slight changes in lighting conditions make it difficult to discern geons necessary for object identification. CA: A

Which of the following is true regarding optical illusions? A) The Ponzo illusion arises from a misuse of convergence, such that objects that appear far away should be smaller than objects up close. B) The Muller-Lyer effect arises from a misuse of the shape constancy, and depth is misinterpreted. C) The Ames room arises from a misuse of the size constancy, such that two objects of differing sizes appear to be the same size. D) The horizontal lines in the Muller-Lyer effect project different images on the retina, but the right angles make them appear identical.

TA: C Incorrect. The Ames room arises from a misuse of the size constancy, such that two objects of the same size appear to be different sizes. CA: A

Which of the following is true of visual development in infants? A) Infants are born tabula rasa (blank slate), without any capabilities to recognize objects. B) By 4 months of age, infants are able to demonstrate size constancy when distinguishing objects. C) By 4 months of age, infants are able to process visual information using Gestalt principles. D) By 2 months of age, infants can distinguish between different categories of objects.

TA: C Incorrect. Studies suggest that by 4 months of age, infants are still unable to process visual information using Gestalt principles. CA: B

Which of the following is not a property of face processing by the visual system? A) Faces do not tend to evoke emotions during processing. B) Our vast experience in processing facial stimuli provides top-down influence. C) We tend to "see" faces wherever face-like properties are present. D) Our perception of faces is unaffected by lighting conditions or orientation.

TA: C Incorrect. This option correctly outlines a property of face processing by the visual system. We can see faces in mountain ranges, grilled cheese sandwiches, and even Kit Kat bars. CA: D

Which of the following is not an example of top-down processing? A) Panfilo believes people are more likely to own a dog as a pet than a cat, so when he sees an animal in front of a house down the street, he perceives it to be a dog. B) Isabelle is more likely to categorize an object as a car if it has wheels than if it does not have wheels. C) Mahendra has just watched a commercial about retirement homes, and sees the face of an old woman rather than a young woman in an ambiguous figure. D) Sally is better able to understand a word that is written in messy handwriting when she reads the whole sentence rather than looks at the word alone.

TA: D Incorrect. This is an example of top-down processing, as Sally relies on the context of the sentence to determine what the individual word is. CA: B

You have inserted a microelectrode into a dog's primary visual cortex and are recording the number of action potentials. Which pattern of response would most accurately describe the activation of a complex cell? A) Action potentials decrease in frequency when a horizontal bar of light is shifted within the visual field to the right. B) Action potentials are most frequent when the orientation and location of the bar of light remain are randomly changed. C) Action potentials are most frequent when a bar of light is moved while being maintained at a consistent angle within the visual field. D) Action potentials decrease in frequency when the inhibitory region of the bar of light is shifted to outside of the receptive field.

TA:B Incorrect. Complex cells respond maximally at a consistent orientation in the visual field. CA: C