Question 1

Haptic experiences are the result of:

Accepted Answer

Haptic experiences are the result of the integration of multiple signals and higher-level mental processes. These signals include information from haptic receptors, which are located in the skin and provide information about touch, pressure, and temperature. The brain integrates this information with other sensory information, such as vision and hearing, to create a cohesive experience of the world.

Question 2

In a single person, gustation involves ____________ taste buds, all located on the ____________.

Accepted Answer

Gustation involves 500 to 10,000 taste buds, all located on the tongue, throat, and mouth. Option A is too narrow, option B is too broad and option D is too low.

Question 3

____________ has the most direct route to the brain because it is the only sense that bypasses the ____________.

Accepted Answer

Olfaction (sense of smell) has the most direct route to the brain because the olfactory bulb, which is responsible for processing smells, is located at the base of the brain and is directly connected to the limbic system, which is responsible for processing emotions and memories. This bypasses the thalamus, which is responsible for relaying sensory information to different parts of the brain.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of cells in the olfactory bulb?

Accepted Answer

The cells in the olfactory bulb, including the mitral and tufted cells, receive nerve impulses from the olfactory receptor neurons and then relay the signal to other brain areas such as the olfactory cortex and limbic system. Therefore, their primary purpose is to receive and relay signals, rather than simply passing them through the thalamus.

Question 5

Master chefs are likely to have ____________ than other people.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that professional chefs have a larger number of taste buds compared to the general population, which allows them to have a more acute sense of taste and flavor.

Question 6

Meg is rehearsing the solo for her dance performance. In order to perform her solo well, Meg has to be aware of the position of her arms and legs in space. To do this, Meg relies on her ____________ sense.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Meg is rehearsing the solo for her...

Question 7

Most students have learned in school that there are five senses, but there are actually eight. Why?

Accepted Answer

The haptic sense, traditionally considered as touch, has been further divided into distinct senses such as hot, cold, pain, and pressure, recognizing the complexity of sensory experiences beyond the traditional five senses.

Question 8

Kwamie has broken his wrist. His friend, Sam, has taken him to the ER. While they are waiting, Sam starts an argument with Kwamie about the student council election. While they are arguing, Kwamie is feeling very little pain. This is most likely because:

Accepted Answer

Focusing on the argument and engaging in a cognitive activity can close the pain gate, reducing the perception of pain. The distracting effects of arguing may have contributed to Kwamie feeling little pain. Anger can also cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which could provide temporary relief from pain. However, there is no evidence to support option A, B, or D.

Question 9

When Vincente picks up Tillie for their date he notices that her perfume smells wonderful, but that she is wearing too much of it. The information that the perfume smells good is processed in Vincente's ____________; the information that Tillie is wearing too much perfume is processed in Vincente's ____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Vincente picks up Tillie for their...

Question 10

Sadafa loves Indian food, but is careful about what he eats because it hurts his tongue when he eats very spicy food. Sadafa most likely:

Accepted Answer

Supertasters have a higher density of taste buds, making them more sensitive to certain tastes, including the spiciness of food.

Question 11

Avi broke his ankle skiing. At first, he felt a sharp and intense pain. The next day, the sharp pain was gone, but his ankle throbbed almost all of the time. The sharp immediate pain was due to ____________; the later throbbing pain was due to ____________.

Accepted Answer

Myelinated axons conduct signals faster and are responsible for the sharp immediate pain, while nonmyelinated axons conduct signals more slowly and are responsible for the throbbing pain that persists over time. Therefore, sharp immediate pain is due to myelinated axons, and later throbbing pain is due to nonmyelinated axons.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a basic quality of taste?

Accepted Answer

The four basic quality of taste are sweet, sour, salty, and umami. "Sharp" is not a basic quality of taste.

Question 13

When Margot was a child, her mother baked bread on Fridays. As an adult, whenever Margot smells bread baking she remembers her mother and feels happy. The mood and memories result from processing of smell information in the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Margot was a child, her mother...

Question 14

It is a warm summer day and a group of friends has decided to go on a picnic. Unfortunately, the watermelon they brought has attracted some stinging wasps. Who would experience the most pain if one of these wasps were to sting:

Accepted Answer

Marie, who is undergoing estrogen replacement therapy, would experience the most pain if stung by a wasp. Estrogen can increase the risk of an allergic reaction to insect stings, leading to more severe symptoms such as pain, swelling, and difficulty breathing. The other individuals in the scenario do not have a known increased risk of severe allergic reactions to insect stings.

Question 15

Callie is pregnant. She has never liked vegetables and rarely eats them. However, she does not want her baby to have the same bad eating habits. If Callie wants her baby to grow up to enjoy the taste of vegetables, the most effective thing she can do is:

Accepted Answer

Eating vegetables while pregnant and nursing can expose the baby to the taste and nutrients of vegetables even before they start eating solid foods. This can help the baby develop a preference for vegetables, which can increase the likelihood of them enjoying vegetables later in life. Giving the baby strained vegetables as one of their first solid foods can also be helpful, but starting early with the mother's diet can have an even greater impact. Avoiding meat or limiting meat for the baby is not necessarily related to developing a liking for vegetables.

Question 16

Kewal scored in the lowest 15 percent of the population on the smell identification test. Kewal is at increased risk for:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kewal scored in the lowest 15 percent...

Question 17

Most painful experiences are caused by __________ that activates __________ receptors.

Accepted Answer

Painful experiences are usually caused by damage to the skin, which activates haptic receptors (pain receptors aka nociceptors) that signal the brain to produce the sensation of pain. Pressure on the skin typically triggers haptic receptors as well, but it can also activate other receptors that create tactile sensations rather than pain. Olfactory receptors are responsible for our sense of smell and are not involved in processing pain.

Question 18

People stop responding to unchanging stimuli because:

Accepted Answer

Habituation occurs when people stop responding to unchanging stimuli because these stimuli convey little new information, leading to decreased attention.

Question 19

People who have great difficulty in identifying smells are at a higher risk for:

Accepted Answer

People who have difficulty in identifying smells are at a higher risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Research studies have shown a strong correlation between impaired olfactory function and cognitive decline.

Question 20

An odour is encoded by:

Accepted Answer

An odour is typically encoded by an activation pattern across several receptor types in our olfactory system. This involves the binding of different odorant molecules to specialized receptors and the subsequent activation of particular neuronal pathways corresponding to the odour. The combination of activation across these receptors determines the specific pattern of neural activity that represents the particular odour we perceive.

Quiz 5: Sensation and Perception