A microelectrode (an electrically conducting glass pipette) is inserted into an olfactory receptor cell to measure the cell's response to a stimulus. The cell is continuously exposed to an odorant molecule. Initially the cell responds by firing action potentials, but over time, the response decreases. This decrease in response is known as:
A)sensory adaptation.
B)sensory integration.
C)sensory transduction.
D)sensory enhancement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The decrease in response over time is a typical characteristic of sensory adaptation, which refers to the diminished sensitivity to a constant or repetitive stimulus. The olfactory receptor cell adapts to the continuous presence of the odorant molecule and its response decreases accordingly. Sensory integration refers to the combination of different sensory inputs to form a coherent perception. Sensory transduction refers to the conversion of a stimulus energy into a neural signal. Sensory enhancement refers to the amplification of a sensory signal by attention or other factors.

A Microelectrode (An Electrically Conducting Glass Pipette) Is Inserted into an Olfactory