How can humans recognize over 10,000 different odours when we have only 339 receptors?
A) Different odorants generate different rates of receptor firing.
B) Different odorants stimulate different places in the olfactory mucosa.
C) Different odorants attach to different combinations of receptors.
D) Many separate odours are combined additively.
E) Different odorants generate different intensities of receptor firing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Humans can recognize a vast array of odors because different odorants bind to different combinations of the 339 olfactory receptors, creating unique patterns of activation that the brain interprets as distinct smells.

How Can Humans Recognize Over 10,000 Different Odours When We