PSYC 3341 Chapter 5: Vision

What is strabismus? a. a failure of the two eyes to focus on the same thing at the same time b. a blurring of vision caused by asymmetrical curvature of the eye c. stereoscopic depth perception d. the ability to perceive a flashing light as if it were a moving object

a: a failure of the two eyes to focus on the same thing at the same time

Infants with cataracts need to have surgical repair ____. a. as early as possible b. before they begin school c. if it does not fix itself d. when they are old enough to recover from surgery

a: as early as possible

The name of the point at which the optic nerve leaves the retina is called the ____. a. blind spot b. fovea c. optic chiasm d. ganglion

a: blind spot

Once within the cerebral cortex, a mixed pathway of magnocellular and parvocellular cells is important for ____. a. brightness and color b. integrating vision with action c. details of shape d. distinguishing facial features

a: brightness and color

Which receptors are responsible for the perception of color? a. cones only b. rods only c. both rods and cones d. horizontal and amacrine cells

a: cones only

Damage to the dorsal stream may interfere with ____. a. describing what is seen b. perceiving the movement of an object c. remembering something seen at a previous time d. reaching out to grasp an object

a: describing what is seen

Which of the following would be easiest for someone who is motion blind? a. dressing themselves b. driving a car c. taking the dog for a walk d. filling a pitcher with water

a: dressing themselves

In the vertebrate retina, which cells are responsible for lateral inhibition? a. horizontal cells b. ganglion cells c. bipolar cells d. glial cells

a: horizontal cells

Which structure has the largest receptive fields and the greatest preferential sensitivity to highly complex visual patterns, such as faces? a. inferior temporal cortex b. superior colliculus c. lateral geniculate d. striate cortex

a: inferior temporal cortex

Which statement characterizes the fovea? a. It has the greatest perception of detail. b. It surrounds the point of exit of the optic nerve. c. It falls in the shadow cast by the pupil. d. It has more rods than cones.

a: it has the greatest perception of detail

Suppose someone has a genetic defect that prevents the formation of horizontal cells in the retina. Which visual phenomenon is most likely to be impaired? a. lateral inhibition b. movement perception c. dark adaptation d. size constancy

a: later inhibition

The enhancement of contrast at the edge of an object is the result of ____. a. lateral inhibition in the retina b. the diffraction of light from the edge's surface c. fatigue of the rods and cones d. the color of the object

a: later inhibition in the retina

The ability to detect movement better than color in our peripheral vision is largely due to ____. a. magnocellular neurons in the periphery b. parvocellular neurons tightly packed in the periphery c. no cones in the periphery d. the strength of the eye muscles

a: magnocellular neurons in the periphery

The optic nerves from the right and left eye initially meet at the ____. a. optic chiasm b. lateral geniculate nucleus c. hypothalamus d. cerebral cortex

a: optic chiasm

Being able to detect fine details of a color painting would depend most on which type of ganglion cells? a. parvocellular b. magnocellular c. koniocellular d. kodacellular

a: parvocellular

In depth perception, different views are received by each eye, depending on the distance of the object being viewed. What is this called? a. retinal disparity b. amblyopic differential c. astigmatic contrast d. contrasting imagery

a: retinal disparity

When cells in the middle temporal cortex respond to visual stimuli, their response depends mostly on the ____. a. speed and direction of movement b. exact shape of the object c. color and brightness of the object d. exact location of the object in visual space

a: speed and direction of movement

In the visual system, the ____ and ____ constantly feed information back and forth. a. thalamus; cortex b. thalamus; inferior geniculate c. inferior colliculus; thalamus d. thalamus; lateral colliculus

a: thalamus; cortex

Damage to the ventral stream may interfere with ____. a. the ability to describe the shape or size of an object b. walking toward something seen c. reaching to grasp an object d. perceiving whether the lights are on or off

a: the ability to describe the shape or size of an object

Blindsight refers to ____. a. the ability to localize visual objects within an apparently blind visual field b. the ability to merge together information from both eyes even though they do not see the exact same picture c. improved hearing and touch in blind people d. the inability to see flashing light

a: the ability to localize visual objects within an apparently blind visual field

Light from the right half of the world strikes which part of the retina? a. the left half b. the right half c. the whole retina equally d. It depends of the wavelength.

a: the left half

Rods are to ____ as cones are to ____. a. the periphery; the fovea b. red; blue c. vertebrates; invertebrates d. reading text; reading road signs

a: the periphery; the fovea

The ability of some women to detect slightly finer discriminations of color than other women is most likely due to having ____. a. two types of long-wavelength cones b. more short-wavelength cones c. shorter optic nerves d. a larger cortex

a: two types of long-wavelength cones

The visual paths in the temporal cortex collectively are referred to as the ____. a. ventral stream b. dorsal stream c. lateral stream d. magnoparvocellular pathway

a: ventral stream

An inability to recognize objects despite otherwise satisfactory vision is called ____. a. visual agnosia b. blindsight c. prosopagnosia d. hemianopsia

a: visual agnosia

In the human retina, messages go from receptors at the back of the eye to ____. a. retina cells b. bipolar cells c. ganglion cells d. spiny cells

b: bipolar cells

What type of cell responds to a pattern of light in a particular orientation anywhere within its large receptive field, regardless of the exact location of the stimulus? a. simple b. complex c. bipolar d. ganglion

b: complex

Which cell responds most strongly to a stimulus moving perpendicular to its axis? a. simple b. complex c. lateral geniculate d. ganglion

b: complex

According to the retinex theory, we perceive color by ____. a. the relative activity of three kinds of cones b. contrasting the activity in one area of the visual field with that of the others c. a red vs. green system and a yellow vs. blue system d. detecting the velocity of action potentials from the eye

b: contrasting the activity in one area of the visual field with that of the others

The visual path in the parietal cortex is referred to as the ____. a. ventral stream b. dorsal stream c. parvocellular pathway d. magnocellular pathway

b: dorsal stream

The law of specific nerve energies states that ____. a. perception of a repeated stimulus fades b. every stimulation of the optic nerve is perceived as light c. the speed of action potentials varies depending on the strength of the stimulus d. any stimulation above the threshold produces an action potential

b: every stimulation of the optic nerve is perceived as light

The retinas of predatory birds such as hawks ____. a. have no discernible fovea b. have a greater density of receptors than do humans on the top half of the retina c. have a greater density of receptors than do humans on the bottom half of the retina d. are virtually indistinguishable from the retinas of humans

b: have a greater density of receptors than do humans on the top half of the retina

The one additional feature that hypercomplex cells have that complex cells do not is that hypercomplex cells ____. a. respond to their receptive field faster b. have a strong inhibitory area at one end of its receptive field c. have receptive fields that are triangular d. respond to bars of light in more than one orientation

b: have a strong inhibitory area at one end of its receptive field

Which statement is TRUE with regard to peripheral vision? a. It is very sensitive to detail. b. It is easier to recognize single objects in the periphery that are not surrounded by other objects. c. It is not very sensitive to light. d. It is most sensitive to color, which helps to differentiate multiple objects clearly.

b: it is easier to recognize single objects in the periphery that are not surrounded by other objects

What is responsible for sharpening contrast at visual borders? a. receptive fields b. lateral inhibition c. retinal disparity d. the direction in which the light shines

b: later inhibition

Cutting the left optic nerve in front of the optic chiasm would result in blindness in the ____. a. right eye b. left eye c. peripheral vision of both eyes d. left visual field

b: left eye

Once information is sent to the secondary visual cortex, it ____. a. has reached its final processing destination b. may return to the primary visual cortex c. goes mostly to the primary motor cortex d. is sent back to the retina

b: may return to the primary visual cortex

Which theory of color vision is best able to explain negative color afterimages? a. retinex theory b. opponent-process theory c. trichromatic theory d. kodak theory

b: opponent-process theory

Chemicals that release energy when struck by light are called ____. a. photo-optics b. photopigments c. opsins d. kestrels

b: photopigments

Visual information from the lateral geniculate area goes to the ____. a. retina b. primary visual cortex c. thalamus d. hypothalamus

b: primary visual cortex

Stereoscopic depth perception requires the brain to detect ____. a. amblyopia b. retinal disparity c. strabismus d. contrasting imagery

b: retinal disparity

Which theory can best explain why people that are wearing yellow-colored glasses can still identify the color of a green apple? a. trichromatic theory b. retinex theory c. opponent-process theory d. kodak theory

b: retinex theory

Horizontal cells receive their input from ____, and they send output to ____. a. rods and cones; ganglion cells b. rods and cones; bipolar cells c. bipolar cells; ganglion cells d. cones; rods

b: rods and cones; bipolar cells

In comparison to the rods, cones are more ____. a. common toward the periphery of the retina b. sensitive to detail c. sensitive to dim light d. common in rodents and other nocturnal animals

b: sensitive to detail

The primary visual cortex is also known as the ____. a. lateral geniculate nucleus b. striate cortex c. area V2 d. parvocellular area

b: striate cortex

Cortical neurons in the visual cortex of a kitten or a cat will lose the ability to respond to stimuli in one eye if the eye is sutured shut for ____. a. the first week after birth b. the first month of life c. any two month period in adult life d. the third and fourth months of life

b: the first month of life

If you want to see something in fine detail, you should focus the light on which part of your retina? a. the optic nerve b. the fovea c. an area containing mostly rods d. the cornea

b: the fovea

According to the Young-Helmholtz theory, what is the basis for color vision? a. a different receptor for each color b. three kinds of cones c. a single receptor that produces different responses for each color d. the combined influences of rods and cones

b: three kinds of cones

Where does the optic nerve send most of its information? a. directly to the cerebral cortex b. to the lateral geniculate c. to the superior colliculus d. directly to the occipital lobe

b: to the lateral geniculate

What would be the likely outcome of a person who was blind at birth, and had vision restored later in life by the removal of cataracts (clouded lenses)? a. quick development of normal vision b. trouble describing the shapes of objects c. trouble identifying the location of light d. inability to use touch and sound cues to maneuver around in a building

b: trouble describing the shapes of objects

To what does "shape constancy" refer? a. All neurons within a single column have the same shape of dendritic tree. b. We can recognize objects even at different orientations. c. Objects described from memory appear more symmetrical than in reality. d. We see certain shapes the same way throughout our lives regardless of age.

b: we can recognize objects even at different orientations

According to the law of specific nerve energies, the brain tells the difference between one sensory modality and another by ____. a. which neurotransmitter is released b. which neurons are active c. the velocity of the action potentials d. the amplitude of the action potentials

b: which neurons are active

Night-active species are more likely than day-active species to have ____. a. better peripheral vision b. larger blind spots c. a greater rod to cone ratio d. a greater cone to rod ratio

c: a greater rod to cone ratio

Light energy converts 11-cis-retinal to ____. a. opsins b. unstable proteins c. all-trans-retinal d. sodium

c: all-trans-retinal

Various types of ____ cells refine the input to ganglion cells, enabling them to respond specifically to shapes, movement, or other visual features. a. receptors b. geniculate cells c. amacrine cells d. optic nerves

c: amacrine cells

In comparison to cones, rods ____. a. are more common toward the center of the retina b. are more sensitive to detail c. are more sensitive to dim light d. reach their peak firing levels slowly

c: are more sensitive to dim light

Astigmatism refers to the ____. a. sensitive period for development of vision b. ability to see horizontal and vertical lines c. asymmetric curvature of eyes d. inability to detect motion

c: asymmetric curvature of eyes

What is the shape of the receptive field to which a simple cell in the primary visual cortex responds? a. circle of a particular radius b. circle with a hole in the middle c. bar in a particular orientation d. bar of a particular length

c: bar in a particular orientation

Parvocellular neurons most likely receive input from ____. a. magnocellular neurons b. rods c. bipolar cells that receive input from cones d. the periphery of the retina

c: bipolar cells that receive input from cones

Human newborns come into the world predisposed to pay more attention to ____ than any other stationary displays. a. toys b. balloons c. faces d. dogs

c: faces

____ respond to a particular feature of a stimulus. a. Hypercomplex cells b. Magnocellular cells c. Feature detectors d. Shape detectors

c: feature detectors

Why does the fovea provide the clearest, most detailed visual information? a. It is closest to the pupil. b. It surrounds the optic nerve. c. It has tightly packed receptors. d. It contains many blood vessels for supplying energy.

c: it has tightly packed receptors

Branches of the optic nerve go directly to what areas of the brain? a. lateral geniculate and cerebral cortex b. superior colliculus and cerebral cortex c. lateral geniculate and superior colliculus d. prefrontal cortex and occipital lobe

c: lateral geniculate and superior colliculus

Why do humans perceive faint light better in the periphery of the eye? a. Receptors in the periphery are closer to the pupil. b. The fovea is closer to the retina's blind spot than peripheral receptors. c. More receptors in the periphery than in the fovea funnel input to each ganglion cell. d. Ganglion cells in the periphery transmit their information to a larger brain area.

c: more receptors in the periphery than in the fovea funnel input to each ganglion cell

Once within the cerebral cortex, the magnocellular pathway continues, with a ventral branch sensitive to ____. a. details of shape b. facial features c. movement d. brightness

c: movement

After you stare at a bright green object for a minute and look away, you see red. Which theory attempts to explain this finding? a. Young-Helmholtz theory b. trichromatic theory c. opponent-process theory d. color-constancy theory

c: opponent-process theory

____ are chemicals that release energy when struck by light. a. Phototransmitters b. Photosins c. Photopigments d. Photoions

c: photopigments

The receptive field of a receptor is the ____. a. point at which the optic nerve exits the retina b. axon hillock c. point in space from which light strikes the receptor d. point where light shines on, and excites, the visual cortex

c: point in space from which light strikes the receptor

Light enters the eye through an opening in the center of the iris called the ____. a. retina b. cornea c. pupil d. macula

c: pupil

The ____ of any neuron in the visual system is the area of the visual field that excites or inhibits it. a. stimulus field b. convergence field c. receptive field d. bipolar field

c: receptive field

The point in space from which light strikes the receptor is called the ____. a. stimulus field b. convergence field c. receptive field d. bipolar area

c: receptive field

In what order does visual information pass through the retina? a. receptor cells, ganglion cells, bipolar cells b. ganglion cells, bipolar cells, receptor cells c. receptor cells, bipolar cells, ganglion cells d. bipolar cells, receptor cells, ganglion cells

c: receptor cells, bipolar cells, ganglion cells RBG

A person with visual agnosia is unable to ____. a. perceive colors b. point to objects c. recognize visual objects d. see

c: recognize visual objects

Someone with prosopagnosia has difficulty with ____. a. focusing on colored objects b. seeing items located in the left visual field c. recognizing faces d. processing information from more than one sensory modality at a time

c: recognizing faces

Difficulty distinguishing between ____ and ____ is the most common form of color vision deficiency. a. blue; yellow b. green; blue c. red; green d. red; blue

c: red; green

V1 neurons would be most strongly activated by viewing ____. a. the letter T b. a circle c. repeating stripes on a flag d. a single bar of light

c: repeating stripes on a flag

Color and brightness constancy are best explained by the ____ theory of color vision. a. trichromatic b. opponent-process c. retinex d. constancy

c: retinex

Peripheral vision mainly depends upon ____. a. the fovea b. cones c. rods d. just a few receptors

c: rods

The primary visual cortex sends its information ____. a. to the lateral geniculate nucleus b. to area V1 c. to area V2 d. back to the retina

c: to area V2

In vertebrate retinas, receptors send their messages ____. a. straight to the brain b. immediately to ganglion cells within the retina c. to bipolar cells within the retina d. to the periphery of the retina first, ganglion cells next, and bipolar cells last

c: to bipolar cells within the retina

What is one way to determine whether a given cell in the primary visual cortex is "simple" or "complex"? a. the shape of its receptive field b. whether its receptive field is monocular or binocular c. whether it can respond equally to lines in more than one location d. whether it is sensitive to the orientation of the stimulus

c: whether it can respond equally to lines in more than one location

Cortical area ____ appears to be where conscious visual perception occurs. a. V4 b. V3 c. V2 d. V1

d: V1

Area ____ is particularly important for color constancy. a. V1 b. V2 c. V3 d. V4

d: V4

In foveal vision, ____. a. each ganglion cell excited by many receptors b. ganglion cells respond poorly to color vision c. ganglion cells respond well to dim light d. each ganglion cell is excited by a single cone

d: each ganglion cell is excited by a single cone

____ cells axons make up the optic nerve. a. Horizontal b. Amacrine c. Bipolar d. Ganglion

d: ganglion

Bipolar cells send their messages to ____, which are located close to the center of the eye. a. spiny cells b. cornea cells c. bipolar cells d. ganglion cells

d: ganglion cells

The optic nerve is composed of axons from which kind of cell? a. rods and cones b. bipolar cells c. horizontal cells d. ganglion cells

d: ganglion cells

Once within the cerebral cortex, the magnocellular pathway continues, with a dorsal branch important for ____. a. details of shape b. color and brightness c. movement d. integrating vision with action

d: integrating vision with action

The most common form of color vision deficiency is due to ____. a. poor eyesight b. malformation of area V4 in the brain c. complete absence of one of the types of cones d. long- and medium-wavelength cones making the same photopigment

d: long and medium-wavelength cones making the same photopigment

Cells in the inferior temporal cortex that are sensitive to a particular shape are also likely to respond to the shape's ____. a. figure-ground reversal b. color c. motion d. mirror-reversal

d: mirror-reversal

Damage to the magnocellular pathway would most likely lead to the loss of ____. a. color vision b. shape perception c. color constancy d. motion perception

d: motion perception

Axons from the lateral geniculate extend to which area of the cerebral cortex? a. precentral gyrus b. postcentral gyrus c. prefrontal cortex d. occipital lobe

d: occipital lobe

____ modify the ____ sensitivity to different wavelengths of light. a. Retinol; photopigments b. Opsins; retinol c. Photopigments; opsins d. Opsins; photopigments

d: opsins; photopigments

According to the trichromatic theory of color vision ____. a. there are only three rods and three cones in each eye b. there are only three colors of light in the world c. rods are important for perception of light colors d. our perception of color depends on the relative activity of three types of cones

d: our perception of color depends on the relative activity of three types of cones

Color constancy is the ability to ____. a. perceive all wavelengths as the same color b. see color, even in very faint light c. differentiate among many colors and hues d. recognize the color of an object despite changes in lighting

d: recognize the color of an object despite changes in lighting

In addition to having difficulty recognizing faces, people with prosopagnosia may have difficulty____. a. reading b. with all types of memory c. recognizing colors d. recognizing different kinds of plants and animals

d: recognizing different kinds of plants and animals

According to the trichromatic theory of color vision, the most important factor in determining the color we see is the ____. a. velocity of the action potential b. absolute activity of a single cone c. difference between cone and rod activity d. relative activity of short, medium, and long wavelengths

d: relative activity of short, medium, and long wavelengths

The lateral geniculate nucleus is part of the ____. a. cerebral cortex b. superior colliculus c. inferior colliculus d. thalamus

d: thalamus

The fact that all colors on older televisions were created by combining only three different colors of light supports the ____ theory of color vision. a. CRT b. opponent process c. retinex d. trichromatic

d: trichromatic

At the level of rods and cones, the ____ theory seems to fit best, while at the level of the bipolar cells, the ____ theory seems to fit best. a. opponent process; volley b. volley; trichromatic c. opponent process; trichromatic d. trichromatic; opponent process

d: trichromatic; opponent process