Question 1

Which of the following best describes the adaptation properties of Merkel receptors in the skin?

Accepted Answer

Slowly adapting, respond to steady pressure and texture

Question 2

A patient presents with numbness in their left hand. Based on sensory physiology, which pathway is most likely interrupted?

Accepted Answer

Sensory pathway from the left hand

Question 3

Which receptor type is most likely to respond to a painful stimulus caused by intense heat?

Accepted Answer

Nociceptor

Question 4

Which cranial nerve is NOT involved in the transmission of taste signals from the tongue?

Accepted Answer

Trigeminal nerve (V)

Question 5

Which of the following best explains the phenomenon of referred pain, such as cardiac ischemia felt in the left arm?

Accepted Answer

Nociceptors from the heart and skin converge on the same ascending sensory pathway

Question 6

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the coding of stimulus intensity in sensory neurons?

Accepted Answer

Stimulus intensity is coded by the frequency of action potentials

Question 7

Which of the following equations best represents the relationship between stimulus intensity and action potential frequency?

Accepted Answer

$$f_{AP} = k \cdot I_{stim}$$

Question 8

Which type of receptor is most likely to be activated when a person feels a gentle stroking movement on their skin?

Accepted Answer

Meissner's corpuscle

Question 9

Which area of the brain is responsible for processing auditory information?

Accepted Answer

Temporal lobe

Question 10

A patient with damage to the primary somatic sensory cortex would most likely experience deficits in which function?

Accepted Answer

Touch and proprioception

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the adaptation property of Pacinian corpuscles?

Accepted Answer

Rapidly adapting, respond to vibration

Question 12

Which neurotransmitter is released by Type III (presynaptic) taste cells to signal sour taste?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of the gate-control theory of pain modulation?

Accepted Answer

Touch or nonpainful stimuli can decrease the perception of pain

Question 14

Which of the following is TRUE about olfactory receptor neurons?

Accepted Answer

They are replaced by neurogenesis approximately every 2 months

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the pathway for equilibrium signals in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Equilibrium pathways project to the cerebellum

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a primary taste detected by taste buds?

Accepted Answer

Spicy

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why the amount of space devoted to each body part in the sensory cortex is not proportional to its size?

Accepted Answer

The space is proportional to the sensitivity of the body part

Question 18

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the relationship between smell and taste?

Accepted Answer

Taste identification is significantly improved when smell is present

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the function of Type II taste cells?

Accepted Answer

They release ATP as a signal to interact with other cells

Question 20

Which of the following is the correct sequence for the three-neuron sensory pathway from the tongue to the gustatory cortex?

Accepted Answer

Tongue/oral cavity → medulla → thalamus → gustatory cortex

Sensory Physiology: Mechanisms and Pathways

Study Guide - Practice Questions