An odour is encoded by:
A) a single receptor specialized for that odour
B) an activation pattern across several receptor types
C) a single olfactory and a single gustatory receptor
D) an activation pattern across several olfactory and gustatory receptor types

Question

Quizplus · 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.

An Odour Is Encoded By