UCLA Sleeping and Dreaming Essay

Respond to ONE of the following Essay Questions: 

1.

Describe the relationship between a physical stimulus and the kinds of sensory responses that result from it. Begin by defining “sensation” and how psychologists study it.

2.

If the eye were constructed with a second lens that “unreversed” the image hitting the retina, do you think there would be changes in the way people perceive the world? Defend your position.

3.

Suppose that a new “miracle pill” is developed that will allow a person to function with only one hour of sleep per night. However, because a night’s sleep is so short, a person who takes the pill will never dream again. Knowing what you do about the functions of sleep and dreaming, from a personal standpoint, would you take such a pill? Give your reasoning.

4.

In this module, it was asserted that much research is being conducted on repairing faulty sensory organs through devices such as personal guidance systems and eyeglasses, among others. Do you think that researchers should attempt to improve normal sensory capabilities beyond their “natural” range (e.g., make human visual or audio capabilities more sensitive than normal)? Give possible benefits that this change might bring and what sorts of problems it might present.

5.

A friend tells you, `once heard of a person who was murdered by being hypnotized and then told to jump from the Golden Gate Bridge! ould such a thing have happened? Why or why not?