COGSCI Exam #1 Lecture Quizzes
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
TRUE OR FALSE? The brain's visual system is like a camera. What we see through our eyes is a
direct window onto an objective reality. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Which of the following statements about the problem of inverse optics is/are true?
A. The problem of inverse optics is underdetermined and is therefore very difficult to solve.
B. The problem of inverse optics involves making an inference from a 3D scene (i.e. a light
source and objects in the world) to what 2D pattern of light will end up on the retina.
C. Our perceptual system solves the problem of inverse optics by using hidden, built-in
assumptions about how the world works. - CORRECT ANSWER - A and C
Based on the Ramachandran and Anstis article, which hypothesis would be preferred by the
visual system? - CORRECT ANSWER - A white triangle is sitting on top of another
triangle and three circles.
What is the Straight Line Assumption? - CORRECT ANSWER - the assumption that
things tend to move in a straight line (visual system perceives linear motion in preference to
abrupt changes in direction)
Which of the following claims is NOT made in the reading by Brian Scholl?
Because people do not typically find Bayesian reasoning intuitive inconscious decision-making,
we should doubt that the perceptual systemengages in unconscious, Bayesian inference.
, In the context of visual perception, the data is the 2D retinal image, and the hypotheses under
consideration are the possible 3D scenes in the world that may have given rise to that image.
We should think of the perceptual system's hidden assumptions such as "there is a single
overhead light source" as Bayesian prior probabilities. - CORRECT ANSWER - Because
people do not typically find Bayesian reasoning intuitive inconscious decision-making, we
should doubt that the perceptual systemengages in unconscious, Bayesian inference.
TRUE/FALSE: According to the reading by Brian Scholl, because Bayesian inference is a
learning method, Bayesian theories of perception and cognition are not compatible with nativist
theories that assume innate structures and knowledge. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
A person has damage to both the lateral geniculate nucleus AND the primary visual cortex (V1).
Which of the following would be most likely to result from this damage?
Blindsight - the person cannot consciously perceive anything, but is able to navigate his/her
surroundings.
Total Blindness
Face blindness. - CORRECT ANSWER - Total blindness.
Which term from the Bayes' Rule equation given in the lecture slides (e.g. slide 4-5 from the
9/10 lecture slides) corresponds to the notion of the perceptual system's built-in assumptions
about the properties of the physical world?
P (scene | retinal patterns)
P (retinal patterns)
P (scene)
P (retinal patterns | scene) - CORRECT ANSWER - P (scene)
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
TRUE OR FALSE? The brain's visual system is like a camera. What we see through our eyes is a
direct window onto an objective reality. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Which of the following statements about the problem of inverse optics is/are true?
A. The problem of inverse optics is underdetermined and is therefore very difficult to solve.
B. The problem of inverse optics involves making an inference from a 3D scene (i.e. a light
source and objects in the world) to what 2D pattern of light will end up on the retina.
C. Our perceptual system solves the problem of inverse optics by using hidden, built-in
assumptions about how the world works. - CORRECT ANSWER - A and C
Based on the Ramachandran and Anstis article, which hypothesis would be preferred by the
visual system? - CORRECT ANSWER - A white triangle is sitting on top of another
triangle and three circles.
What is the Straight Line Assumption? - CORRECT ANSWER - the assumption that
things tend to move in a straight line (visual system perceives linear motion in preference to
abrupt changes in direction)
Which of the following claims is NOT made in the reading by Brian Scholl?
Because people do not typically find Bayesian reasoning intuitive inconscious decision-making,
we should doubt that the perceptual systemengages in unconscious, Bayesian inference.
, In the context of visual perception, the data is the 2D retinal image, and the hypotheses under
consideration are the possible 3D scenes in the world that may have given rise to that image.
We should think of the perceptual system's hidden assumptions such as "there is a single
overhead light source" as Bayesian prior probabilities. - CORRECT ANSWER - Because
people do not typically find Bayesian reasoning intuitive inconscious decision-making, we
should doubt that the perceptual systemengages in unconscious, Bayesian inference.
TRUE/FALSE: According to the reading by Brian Scholl, because Bayesian inference is a
learning method, Bayesian theories of perception and cognition are not compatible with nativist
theories that assume innate structures and knowledge. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
A person has damage to both the lateral geniculate nucleus AND the primary visual cortex (V1).
Which of the following would be most likely to result from this damage?
Blindsight - the person cannot consciously perceive anything, but is able to navigate his/her
surroundings.
Total Blindness
Face blindness. - CORRECT ANSWER - Total blindness.
Which term from the Bayes' Rule equation given in the lecture slides (e.g. slide 4-5 from the
9/10 lecture slides) corresponds to the notion of the perceptual system's built-in assumptions
about the properties of the physical world?
P (scene | retinal patterns)
P (retinal patterns)
P (scene)
P (retinal patterns | scene) - CORRECT ANSWER - P (scene)
