Considering that sounds and odors both trigger changes in the patterns of action potentials in sensory neurons, how does the brain perceive which sense is which when the action potentials reach the brain?
a. The action potentials stimulated by sounds are different in size and shape from those stimulated by odors.
b. The axons from different sensory neurons go to different areas of the brain.
c. Mechanoreception is not consciously perceived by the brain, whereas chemoreception is.
d. Chemoreception is not consciously perceived by the brain, whereas mechanoreception is.

Question

Considering that sounds and odors both trigger changes in the patterns of action potentials in sensory neurons, how does the brain perceive which sense is which when the action potentials reach the brain?

a. The action potentials stimulated by sounds are different in size and shape from those stimulated by odors.

b. The axons from different sensory neurons go to different areas of the brain.

c. Mechanoreception is not consciously perceived by the brain, whereas chemoreception is.

d. Chemoreception is not consciously perceived by the brain, whereas mechanoreception is.

Accepted Answer

Welcome back. Here's the next problem identify which of the following is the process in which the external stimulus is converted into an internal signal in the form of the action potential. Well when we think about converting an external stimulus into an action potential. So we're talking about converting an external stimulus into elect an electrical signal in the nervous system that process it's called sensory trans deduction. And it occurs when receptors sensory receptors in the body receive interact with external stimuli. And then those messages are passed by means of an action potential as the electrical potential changes in the cell. And then that allows the signal to travel along the neuron by means of changing electrical potentials. So let's look at the answer choices and we see that choice D is sensory transaction. So that's our correct answer. But let's just see why the other answers are not correct. Choice A says sensory reception. Um Well that's this first part of the process where the receptors interact with the external stimulus, whether it's a visual stimulus, a sound, um pressure or other external stimulus. So that's not. Um the process by which is converted into an internal signal. That's just that initial interaction. So that's not our answer here. Choice B. Is chemo reception. Um This is a form of sensory reception in which um the individual can receive chemical stimuli from outside the body. Um And one way which this happens in humans is the sense of taste. Um Those sensory cells identifying chemical stimuli in the food that's being eaten. So choice be not. Our answer is that's just another form of sensory reception. And then Choice C. A sensory adaptation. Sensory adaptation is when there's a reduction in the sensitivity to a sensory stimulus after um a constant exposure. So constant exposure to a particular stimulus reduces um the sensitivity to that stimulus but not what we're describing in this problem, So not our answer. So again, the process in which the external stimulus is converted into an internal signal in the form of an action potential is d sensory transaction. See you in the next video.

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Key Concepts

Action Potentials

Sensory Neurons

Brain's Sensory Processing