The Chemical Senses

A set of vocab flashcards covering key concepts from the Chemical Senses lecture notes.

Chemical Senses

Sensory systems involved in the detection of chemical stimuli (smell and taste).

Gustation

The sense of taste.

Olfaction

The sense of smell.

Flavour Perception

The combined experience of taste and smell.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons, particularly for sensory receptors.

Macrosmatic

Animals with a keen sense of smell.

Microsmatic

Animals with a less developed sense of smell.

Pheromones

Chemical signals that influence the behaviour of other individuals.

Olfactory Receptors

Sensory receptors responsible for detecting odours.

Detection Threshold

The minimum concentration of a stimulus that can be detected.

Difference Threshold

The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Olfactometer

A device used to measure olfactory sensitivity and difference thresholds.

Recognition Threshold

The concentration needed to identify a specific odour.

ORN (Olfactory Receptor Neuron)

Neurons that detect odourant molecules.

Glomeruli

Structures in the olfactory bulb where ORNs send their signals.

Calcium Imaging Method

A technique to measure the activity level of ORNs based on calcium ion levels.

Optical Imaging Method

A method to visualize the activity in glomeruli in response to smells.

2-Deoxyglucose Technique (2DG)

A method used to assess metabolic activity in the olfactory bulb.

Pheromones in Rabbits

Chemical signals in female rabbits that stimulate nursing behaviour in newborns.

Frontal Lobe

A part of the brain involved in olfactory processing and decision-making.

Orbitofrontal Cortex

A region associated with the evaluation of odours and flavour.

Temporal Lobe

Brain region involved in processing of sensory information, including taste.

Taste Buds

Groups of sensory cells on the tongue that detect taste.

Five Basic Taste Qualities

Salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami.

Circumvalliate Papillae

Taste buds located at the back of the tongue.

Fungiform Papillae

Taste buds located on the tip and sides of the tongue.

Thalamus

Brain region that relays sensory information.

Insula

Brain area involved in taste perception.

Chorda Tympani Nerve

A nerve that transmits taste information from the anterior part of the tongue.

Glossopharyngeal Nerve

A nerve responsible for taste from the posterior part of the tongue.

Vagus Nerve

A nerve that carries signals related to taste from the throat and voice box.

Taste cell

Sensory cells located within taste buds that respond to chemical stimuli.