Lauren loves very hot, spicy foods full of pepper. Sometimes, her friends can't eat the food she prepares because they actually feel like their mouths have been burned. It is likely that this response results from the activity of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nociceptors are sensory neurons that respond to potentially damaging or harmful stimuli, including chemical irritants. The spicy foods that Lauren enjoys likely contain capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers, which can activate nociceptors and cause the sensation of burning or pain in the mouth. Warm fibers and mechanoreceptors are not directly involved in this sensation, and the response is not a combination of warm and cold fibers.

Lauren Loves Very Hot, Spicy Foods Full of Pepper