Question 1

To identify a particular odor, the brain:
A)interprets the pattern of odor receptor cells that are stimulated.
B)determines the source of the odor.
C)responds to the location and size of the particular receptor cell that has been stimulated.
D)transfers neural messages to the thalamus for processing.

Accepted Answer

When we smell something, the odor molecules bind to specific receptor cells in our olfactory epithelium. The pattern of receptor cells that are stimulated by the odor molecule is interpreted by the brain to recognize the particular odor. This process is known as odor perception. Therefore, the brain identifies a particular odor by interpreting the pattern of odor receptor cells that are stimulated.

Question 2

The olfactory bulb is:
A)the enlarged ending of the olfactory cortex.
B)located at the opening of the nasal cavity.
C)made up of the receptors for smell.
D)a tiny structure found on the tips of olfactory neuron fibers.

Accepted Answer

The olfactory bulb is indeed the enlarged ending of the olfactory cortex, where it processes the information about odors detected by cells in the nasal cavity before relaying it to other brain regions for further processing.

Question 3

As you walk into your office, you are almost overwhelmed by the strong smell of the cologne with which the copier repairman has doused himself. Because you have studied this chapter, however, you reassure yourself that sensory adaptation will occur and you will become much less aware of the odor in approximately:
A)twenty minutes.
B)ten minutes.
C)five minutes.
D)a minute or less.

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation refers to the diminished sensitivity to a stimulus as a consequence of constant exposure to it. This process can occur relatively quickly, often within a minute or less, allowing individuals to become less aware of ongoing stimuli such as strong odors.

Question 4

Smell and taste receptors respond to what type of stimuli?
A)vibrating air molecules
B)electromagnetic waves
C)chemical molecules
D)airborne nociceptors

Accepted Answer

Smell and taste receptors respond to chemical molecules in the environment. Vibrating air molecules and electromagnetic waves are sensed by different sensory organs, such as the ears and eyes, respectively. Airborne nociceptors are receptors that detect painful stimuli in the airways but are not directly related to smell or taste perception.

Question 5

The _____ is thought to be involved in our conscious recognition of smells.
A)parietal lobe
B)limbic system
C)visual cortex
D)temporal lobe

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobe is involved in our conscious recognition of smells, as it houses the primary olfactory cortex which processes scent information.

Question 6

Individuals who lack a sense of smell have a condition called:
A)prosopagnosia.
B)aphasia.
C)hemianopia.
D)anosmia.

Accepted Answer

Those who lack a sense of smell have anosmia. Prosopagnosia is a condition where someone has difficulty recognizing faces, aphasia is a condition where someone has difficulty using language, and hemianopia is a condition where someone has blindness or lack of visual perception in one-half of the visual field.

Question 7

Unlike the sensory receptor cells for hearing and vision, olfactory neurons:
A)are replaced every 30 to 60 days.
B)do not regenerate.
C)are responsive to more than one kind of sensory stimulus.
D)are linked directly to the thalamus.

Accepted Answer

Olfactory neurons are unique among sensory neurons because they have the ability to regenerate. They are replaced approximately every 30 to 60 days, unlike the sensory receptor cells for hearing and vision, which do not regenerate or have a very limited capacity for regeneration.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A)Sharp smells are sensed in a different area of the nose than bitter smells or sweet smells.
B)There are thousands of different odor receptor cells, and each cell is specialized to activate in response to a single odor.
C)Different odors are perceived in different regions of the brain.
D)A particular odor stimulates a different combination of odor receptors.

Accepted Answer

Each odor stimulates a different combination of odor receptors, which are then interpreted by the brain to identify the specific scent. This is known as the pattern theory of olfaction. There are not individual receptor cells for each different odor.

Question 9

Olfaction and gustation are sometimes called the:
A)chemical senses.
B)pheromone senses.
C)sensory neurons.
D)ear-nose neurons.

Accepted Answer

Olfaction and gustation are senses that detect chemicals in the environment, so they are referred to as the chemical senses.

Question 10

The stimuli that produce the sensation of an odor are:
A)molecules in the air.
B)vibrating airwaves.
C)proprioceptors.
D)olfactory receptors.

Accepted Answer

Odor molecules in the air are detected by specialized receptors in the nasal cavity called olfactory receptors. These receptors then transmit signals to the brain, which are interpreted as the sensation of an odor. Therefore, the correct choice is A, as it accurately describes the stimuli that produce the sensation of an odor. B refers to the stimuli that produce the sensation of sound, while C refers to the receptors that detect body position and movement. D is also partially correct, as olfactory receptors are involved in detecting odor molecules, but by themselves, they do not produce the sensation of an odor without the presence of odor molecules in the air.

Question 11

In an experiment investigating whether people can train their sense of smell, participants were repeatedly exposed to a particular class of odors (floral or minty). As a result of this repeated exposure, _____.
A)the participants improved their ability to distinguish subtle differences among different scents
B)the level of human chemosignals produced by the sweat glands increased in the participants
C)participants became less able to distinguish subtle differences among different scents
D)most participants developed an aversion to this particular class of odors (floral or minty)

Accepted Answer

The repeated exposure to a particular class of odors (floral or minty) is an example of sensory adaptation or habituation. This type of exposure can lead to improved sensory discrimination or the ability to distinguish subtle differences among different scents. Therefore, option A is correct. Option B is incorrect because the production of human chemosignals is not related to the experiment's objective. Option C is also incorrect as repeated exposure usually leads to increased sensitivity, not decreased sensitivity. Option D is irrelevant because the experiment does not relate to aversion.

Question 12

Young Gabriel can quite easily hear pitches ranging from 20 to 20,000 hertz. His ability to sense high-frequency sounds above 3,000 hertz is BEST explained by the _____ theory of pitch discrimination.
A)frequency
B)trichromatic
C)gate-control
D)place

Accepted Answer

The place theory of pitch discrimination states that different frequencies of sound waves produce maximal excitation of different locations along the basilar membrane in the inner ear. Therefore, Gabriel's ability to sense high-frequency sounds above 3,000 hertz is best explained by the place theory, as his auditory system is detecting which location on the basilar membrane is being stimulated by those higher frequency sound waves.

Question 13

The olfactory neurons in your nose are unique in that they:
A)do not demonstrate sensory adaptation to persistent stimuli.
B)respond to multiple stimuli, including light waves and sound waves.
C)regenerate approximately once every twelve months.
D)directly link the brain to the outside world.

Accepted Answer

Olfactory neurons are unique because they have direct connections to the brain, allowing them to transmit information about smells directly from the nose to the brain without passing through other processing centers.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A)Place theory describes the perception of pitch; frequency theory describes the perception of loudness.
B)Place theory explains how people hear low-pitched sounds, while frequency theory explains how people hear high-pitched sounds.
C)Place theory explains how people hear high-pitched sounds, while frequency theory explains how people hear low-pitched sounds.
D)Frequency theory explains the perception of both high-pitched and low-pitched sounds.

Accepted Answer

Place theory proposes that different regions of the basilar membrane in the cochlea respond to different sound frequencies, allowing us to perceive higher-pitched sounds. Frequency theory proposes that the rate of neural impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a sound wave, allowing us to perceive lower-pitched sounds. Therefore, C is the correct statement that describes the roles of place theory and frequency theory.

Question 15

Which part of the brain is thought to regulate the emotional response to odors?
A)the thalamus
B)the olfactory cortex
C)the limbic system
D)the occipital cortex

Accepted Answer

The limbic system, including the amygdala and hippocampus, is known to be involved in processing emotions, memories, and motivation, and is thus thought to regulate the emotional response to odors.

Question 16

Human pheromones appear primarily to:
A)affect mood and emotional states.
B)enhance general arousal.
C)trigger sexual attraction.
D)increase testosterone levels.

Accepted Answer

Human pheromones primarily affect mood and emotional states.

Question 17

At first, you can barely concentrate in your psychology class because the guy sitting behind you is eating a hamburger smothered in onions. After a minute, you no longer notice the smell of his sandwich because:
A)the airborne molecules released by the onions have blocked your odor receptor cells.
B)your thalamus is no longer processing olfactory signals.
C)your odor receptor cells have increased in sensitivity.
D)sensory adaptation has taken place.

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation is the process by which our senses become less sensitive to constant stimuli. In this scenario, the constant exposure to the smell of onions has caused a decrease in sensitivity, leading to the inability to notice the smell after a few minutes.

Question 18

When found in humans, some researchers refer to pheromones as:
A)olfactory signals.
B)social signals.
C)sweat signals.
D)human chemosignals.

Accepted Answer

Pheromones in humans are often referred to as human chemosignals because they are chemical signals that can affect the behavior or physiology of others.

Question 19

Taste is also referred to as:
A)olfaction.
B)gustation.
C)sensation.
D)perception.

Accepted Answer

Taste is also referred to as gustation. Odor or smell, on the other hand, is referred to as olfaction. Sensation is a general term that encompasses all types of sensory experiences. Perception refers to the mental interpretation of sensory information.

Question 20

The word anosmia refers to:
A)a temporary or permanent loss of sensation in the arms or legs.
B)loss of the olfactory sense.
C)loss of the ability to distinguish among different colors.
D)a rare type of deafness, a condition in which people cannot distinguish between low-frequency and high-frequency sounds.

Accepted Answer

Anosmia refers to the partial or complete loss of the sense of smell, and is commonly caused by nasal congestion, head injuries, or neurological disorders.

Quiz 3: Section 2: Sensation and Perception

To identify a particular odor, the brain:

The olfactory bulb is:

Smell and taste receptors respond to what type of stimuli?

The _____ is thought to be involved in our conscious recognition of smells.

Individuals who lack a sense of smell have a condition called:

Unlike the sensory receptor cells for hearing and vision, olfactory neurons:

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Olfaction and gustation are sometimes called the:

The stimuli that produce the sensation of an odor are:

In an experiment investigating whether people can train their sense of smell, participants were repeatedly exposed to a particular class of odors (floral or minty) . As a result of this repeated exposure, _____.

Young Gabriel can quite easily hear pitches ranging from 20 to 20,000 hertz. His ability to sense high-frequency sounds above 3,000 hertz is BEST explained by the _____ theory of pitch discrimination.

The olfactory neurons in your nose are unique in that they:

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Which part of the brain is thought to regulate the emotional response to odors?

Human pheromones appear primarily to:

At first, you can barely concentrate in your psychology class because the guy sitting behind you is eating a hamburger smothered in onions. After a minute, you no longer notice the smell of his sandwich because:

When found in humans, some researchers refer to pheromones as:

Taste is also referred to as:

The word anosmia refers to: