Chapter 5 Part 2 Flashcards
Olfactory Sense
our sense of smell
What is the absolute threshold of taste?
5 ml of sugar in 9 L of water
Papillae
Bumps on the tongue that contain a cluster of taste buds
Taste buds
Cluster of sensory receptor cells that convert chemical signals from food into neural impulses that travel to the brain
Gustatory Sense
our sense of taste
What is the absolute threshold for smell?
a drop of perfume diffused through a six room apartment
How can sense of smell and taste help with survival?
It helps us determine a gas leak, or a smoke from a fire
Save us from eating spoiled food
What can the sense of smell and taste allow?
Enjoy the many wonders of life
Smell a beautiful rose
Eat a delicious meal
How do animals use sense of smell?
Used by less complex animals for social communication, finding food, and avoiding predators
How does smell work?
Chemicals in the air enter our nose and stick to the cilia which contains olfactory sensory receptors
Once enough molecules of chemicals enter the nose and bind to the sensory receptors
It triggers an action potential in the olfactory receptor neurons
Odorant
Physical Stimuli of the olfactory sensory system
How does the olfactory receptor neurons function if it gets tired?
the only way that the olfactory receptor neurons function is if they are exposed to a greater magnitude of stimulus
How do the olfactory receptor neurons tire out?
Repeated or repetitive stimuli binding with the olfactory receptor neurons
If a odorant is continuously binding with olfactory receptor neurons
Then the cells will get tired out
What does taste refer to?
Flavor
A combination of taste and smell
Taste Buds
sensory receptor cells that convert chemical signals from food into neural impulses which is sent to the brain
What are the four different universal taste receptors?
Sweet, sour, bitter, and salty
What is the fifth taste receptor?
Umami
What does the supertasters, medium tasters, and non-tasters study suggest?
everyone has various concentrations of taste buds
Aguesia
Inability to taste
Result from head trauma or oral surgery
Hyposomia
reduced ability to smell
Amosmia
inability to smell, but still can taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami
Reflex Epilsey
a type of epilsey that causes seizures from exposure to odours
What happens if you burn your mouth?
You damage the taste receptor cells, but it can heal over time
How do we attain information about food?
Texture (how it feels on our taste buds)
Piriform Cortex
responsible for identifying and eliminating odors that you do not like
Plastic and changeable (like neuroplasticity) in adulthood
Piriform cortex can recognize specific odors easily
How can certain smells evoke memories?
Olfactory bulb sends information to the amygdala and the hippocampus
Where does information from the olfactory receptor neuron go to?
sent to the olfactory bulb which is in front of the brain below the frontal lobe
Taste buds are formed when…
Before birth
