S&P Midterm Questions
Professor Frank Schieber, Heimstra Human Factors Laboratories, University of South Dakota

(Note: Responses incorporating the contents of the auxiliary readings will be graded more favorably)

1. Define the LUMEN and describe how it serves as the basis for modern photometry.

2. Describe the structure and function of the eye in its role as an "optical instrument".

3. Describe the mechanisms and manifestations of refractive error in the human eye. Discuss how such errors can be corrected via optical aids such as eye glasses or contact lenses.

4. Discuss the vertical and horizontal pathways of information flow within the retina. Describe how this architecture gives rise to the "center-surround antagonism" observed in the receptive fields of retinal ganglion cells.

5. Contrast and compare the functional and structural properties of photopic and scotopic systems.

6. Describe the phenomenon known a Mach bands and give a detailed mechanistic account of why such "contrast sharpening" occurs in the vertebrate visual system.

7. Describe the time-course of the human dark adaptation function and discuss the mechanisms mediating its characteristic shape.

8. Describe the ascending visual pathways from the human retina to the primary visual cortex. Discuss the functional characteristics of the major anatomical sites you encounter along this route.

9. Describe the major functional characteristics of cells found in the primary visual cortex.

10. Discuss the anatomical and functional characteristics that distinguish the magnocellular and parvocellular subsystems of the primate visual system.

11. Describe how the Fourier Theorem has been applied to "unify" the descriptions of the visual stimulus as well as human visual form processing.

12. Describe the contrast sensitivity function. What factors account for its characteristic shape?

13. Outline and discuss the major lines of evidence that give support to the multiple channel theory of human visual form perception.

14. Describe the procedure you would follow to measure the luminous output of a video projector (Hint: ANSI lumens).

Enjoy.
Prof. Schieber

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