36 Chapter 9: Discussion Questions / Chapter Assignments

Chapter 9 questions 

1. In addition to the difference of physical vs chemical input for the senses discussed in this chapter, indicate other differences between each of these senses and those discussed in Chapters 7 and 8.
2. Compare and contrast olfactory receptor neurons and taste receptor cells.
3. Name the cranial nerves involved in olfaction and the gustatory system.
4. Compare and contrast the pathways for perceiving salty flavorants vs sweet flavorants, starting from the flavorant entering the mouth and ending at the gustatory cortex.
5. Describe how respiratory rate is controlled by the internal chemosensory system, including an explanation of the proxy of CO2 levels to which the internal chemosensory is sensitive.
6. Why is it important that brain regions that control vomiting are not isolated from the blood by the blood brain barrier? (1 sentence answer)
7. Why is it important that brain regions that control emesis sense presence of numerous chemicals? (1 sentence answer)
8. What mediates the tight connection between olfaction and memory?

Note: Most of these questions (Questions 2-8) were developed by, or with the assistance of, students in the PSYC 232 class of Winter 2025.