Behavioral Science - Olfaction and Gustation

Where is the first place in the brain where the olfaction and gustation systems integrate?

Orbitofrontal cortex

Which of these is NOT a theory of how odor is coded in the brain? A. Gate control theory of olfaction B. Vibrational Theory of Olfaction C. Labeled-Line theory of olfaction D. Steric theory of olfaction

A. Gate Control theory of olfaction

A team of developmental psychologists are testing the taste sensation in children. The researchers want to make sure that the tastants utilized do not interact with charged particles. Which of these tastant combinations should the researcher use? A. A salty tastant and sour tastant B. A sweet tastant and an umami tastnat C. A bitter tastant and a sour tastant D. A salty tastant and an umami tastant

B. A sweet tastant and an umami tastant

How are the 5 different tastes (salty, sweet, sour, umami, and bitter) sensed by the tongue? (A) There are areas of the tongue whose taste buds are sensitive to one of the five flavors. (B) There are areas of the tongue whose taste bud types are sensitive to one of the five flavors. (C) Each taste bud is composed of multiple cells, that combine to sense the 5 flavors. (D) Each taste bud is composed of multiple cells, that combine to sense 1 of the 5 flavors.

C. Each taste bud is composed of multiple cells, that combine to sense the 5 flavors.

Which statement describes a difference between the pathways for taste and the pathways for vision, hearing, and touch? A. Taste, like olfaction, synapses in the amygdala, while vision, hearing, and touch are first integrated in the thalamus. B. Taste is perceived from the contralateral side, while vision, hearing, and touch input is mostly ipsilateral. C. Taste is perceived from the ipsilateral side, while vision, hearing, and touch input is mostly contralateral. D. Taste, like olfaction, synapses in the thalamus before being integrated with the other senses in the orbitofrontal cortex.

C. Taste is perceived from the ipsilateral side, while vision, hearing, and touch input is mostly contralateral.

Which of the papillae categories does not contain taste buds?

D. Filiform papillae

What is the labeled lines model?

Each one of the gestation cells has its own distinct labeled line (axon) that is carried all the way to the gestation cortex in the brain Which tastes rely on ion

What type of receptor do molecules bind to in the olfactory epithelium?

G-protein coupled receptor

What is a glomerulus in terms of olfactory senses?

It is a destination point for various sensory olfactory smells that are sensitive to the same molecule

Many studies have shown auditory processing occurs in sleep. This is the premise behind smoke detectors. A smell researcher is interested in whether smell can be utilized in a similar fashion. The researcher chooses two odors, peppermint and pyridine. Although peppermint and pyridine have different hedonic valence, the trigeminal strength of the two odors was equal. Why was trigeminal strength controlled in this experiment?

Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve by an odor has been shown to allow anosmics to discern between odors.

What is the correct pathway that a signal takes from the olfactory mucosa to the frontal lobe of the brain?

The pathway for olfaction goes from the olfactory bulb to the amygdala and the piriform cortex. From there the signal is transmitted to the orbitofrontal cortex.

Suppose that a patient's chorda tympani is anesthetized. What would be consequences for the perception of taste?

The patient would lose the ability to taste with the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, but would still be able to taste with the posterior third of the tongue and the throat because these signals would still be carried by the 9th and 10th cranial nerves.

In many animals, there are both olfactory epithelium and a vomeronasal system. Humans lack a major part of the vomeronasal system. How does this affect the human ability to utilize smells vs. pheromones?

With the vomeronasal system impaired, humans rely little on pheromones. With an intact olfactory epithelium, humans still have a strong sense of smell.

To study whether an olfactory receptor neuron is activated by pyradine a researcher employs an imaging technique that utilizes a chemical indicator that glows green when exposed to ultraviolet light. If a decrease in the intensity of glow observed corresponds to an increase in ionic concentration in the olfactory receptor neuron in response to an odorant, which ion would this indicator chelate?

calcium ions

Fill in the blanks to describe the general pathway followed for signal transduction via the olfactory system:A signaling molecule/pheromone binds to a G-protein coupled receptor which depolarizes the cell causing an action potential that is sent to the ________ which then sends a signal via a _________ cell to an olfactory bulb.

glomerulus, mitral/tufted cell