Question 1

Which of the following best describes sensory transduction?

Accepted Answer

The conversion of a stimulus into a change in membrane potential in a receptor cell

Question 2

What is the primary difference between sensation and perception?

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the detection of external stimuli, while perception is the conscious interpretation of those stimuli

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an adequate stimulus for a photoreceptor?

Accepted Answer

Light energy

Question 4

A Pacinian corpuscle generates a graded potential in response to vibration. What happens if the graded potential reaches threshold?

Accepted Answer

An action potential is generated in the same sensory cell

Question 5

Which equation best represents the rate law for action potentials in sensory coding?

Accepted Answer

$$f = \frac{N}{T}$$

Question 6

What is range fractionation in sensory coding?

Accepted Answer

Different cells have different thresholds for firing, allowing a range of stimulus intensities to be encoded

Question 7

Which of the following best describes labeled-line coding?

Accepted Answer

Each sensory neuron transmits information about one specific type of stimulus

Question 8

Which sensory system does NOT pass through the thalamus before reaching the cortex?

Accepted Answer

Olfaction

Question 9

What is the function of phasic receptors?

Accepted Answer

They detect changes in stimulus and adapt quickly

Question 10

Which of the following is a suppression strategy used by sensory systems?

Accepted Answer

Accessory structures such as eyelids reduce the stimulus before it reaches sensory receptors

Question 11

Which of the following best describes a receptive field?

Accepted Answer

The area in which a stimulus will alter a neuron’s firing rate

Question 12

Lateral inhibition in sensory processing enhances the perception of:

Accepted Answer

Edges and points by inhibiting overlapping receptive fields

Question 13

Which brain regions are activated when we are expecting a stimulus and focusing attention?

Accepted Answer

Posterior parietal lobe and cingulate cortex

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of population coding?

Accepted Answer

Color vision, where the combination of many cells makes up the perception of wavelength

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why cats can hear higher frequencies than humans?

Accepted Answer

Cats have a wider range of responsiveness in their auditory sensory system

Question 16

Which of the following is a real-world example of top-down processing?

Accepted Answer

Pain centers in the brain suppress some sensory inputs

Question 17

Which equation best represents the threshold for action potential generation?

Accepted Answer

$$V_{m} \geq V_{threshold}$$

Question 18

Which of the following is true about synesthesia?

Accepted Answer

It is a condition where different senses are integrated inappropriately due to heightened connectivity between brain regions

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the hierarchical organization of sensory pathways?

Accepted Answer

Information flows through brain structures in order of increasing anatomical complexity

General Principles of Sensory Processing: Sensation, Perception, and Neural Coding

Study Guide - Practice Questions