AP Psychology 1.6 Sensation Questions
Distinguish sensory thresholds and apply visual, auditory, touch, pain, vestibular and kinesthetic processes to perception and behaviour in context.
- Syllabus
- Effective Fall 2025
- Course
- AP Psychology
Exam points
- distinguish absolute thresholds from difference thresholds in sound, taste, or pitch scenarios
- apply rods, cones, foveal vision, and accommodation to visual sensitivity, detail, or focus
- explain colour, afterimages, feature detection, or occipital processing of visual stimuli
- connect sound amplitude, the basilar membrane, and bilateral ear position to auditory perception
- apply somatosensory processing to physical touch and gate control theory to altered pain reports
Covered syllabus points
1.6.A—Explain how the process of sensation is related to behavior and mental processes1.6.B—Explain how the structures and functions of the visual sensory system relate to behavior and mental processes.…1.6.C—Explain how the structures and functions of the auditory sensory system relate to behavior and mental processes1.6.D—Explain how the structures and functions of the chemical sensory systems relate to behavior and mental processes1.6.E—Explain how the structures and functions of the touch sensory system relate to behavior and mental processes1.6.F—Explain how the structures and functions of the pain sensory system relate to behavior and mental processes1.6.G—Explain how the structures and functions that maintain balance (vestibular) and body movement (kinesthetic)…
Question 1
[Maximum number: 1]
Sylvie wants to see how loudly she can play her music without her parents hearing it. Sylvie's goal is most closely related to which of the following terms?
A
Absolute threshold
B
Just-noticeable difference
C
Transduction
D
Echoic memory
A
Question 2
[Maximum number: 2]
A researcher designs a study to investigate the effect of feedback on perception of incomplete visual figures.
Each participant stares at the center of a screen while the researcher briefly projects incomplete geometric figures one at a time at random positions on the screen. The participant's task is to identify each incomplete figure. One group of participants receives feedback on the accuracy of their responses. A second group does not.
The researcher compares the mean number of figures correctly identified by the two groups.
Question (a)
(a)
Identify the role of each of the following psychological terms in the context of the research.
- Foveal vision
- Feature detectors
[ 2 ]
Question (i)
(i)
Foveal vision
[ 1 ]
Point 3: Foveal vision
Students must refer to a part of the eye or the central visual field as allowing participants to see figures:
A. Clearly/distinctively/in fine detail/with acuity, OR
B. More accurately.
Note: Students may confuse the fovea with other eye structures and still receive the point.
Question (ii)
(ii)
Feature detectors
[ 1 ]
Point 4: Feature detectors
Students must refer to the role of feature detectors in helping participants identify the geometric figures
by recognizing their elements/parts.
Note: Students must use a synonym for "feature" or offer a specific example (e.g., line, edge, curve, angle),
if the word "feature" is used.
Do not score
- Mere references to the detection of missing elements of the figures or specific references to
closure.
Question 3
[Maximum number: 2]
Sachio traveled to a prestigious college to audition for a music scholarship. After he arrived, he learned that his audition had been rescheduled for late in the day. Sachio was required to play several difficult pieces on his saxophone and interview with the judges. Just before leaving campus, he was offered a full scholarship to the college.
Explain how each of the following might have contributed to the success of Sachio's visit.
- Resistance phase of general adaptation syndrome
- Implicit memory
- Social facilitation
- Basilar membrane
- Somatosensory cortex
- Intrinsic motivation
Question (a)
(a)
Basilar membrane
[ 1 ]
Basilar membrane:
Responses must explain the contribution of the basilar membrane to Sachio's sensation or perception of
sound (e.g., hearing, pitch, tone, timbre, listening) in the context of the visit.
- Score: "Sachio's basilar membrane will help him hear the interview questions."
Point 5
Question (b)
(b)
Somatosensory cortex
[ 1 ]
Somatosensory cortex:
Responses must explain the contribution of the somatosensory cortex to Sachio's sense of touch (e.g.,
temperature, body position, pressure, texture) in the context of the visit.
- Score: "Sachio played better because his somatosensory cortex allowed him to feel that his fingers
were in the right place for the notes he needed to play."
- Do NOT score examples referring to an emotional feeling.
Note: Including other senses (hearing, vision, taste, smell) as being governed by the somatosensory cortex is
considered a direct contradiction and will NOT score.
AP R◯ PSYCHOLOGY
2017 SCORING GUIDELINES
Point 6
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