PSY 30440 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Orbitofrontal Cortex, Olfactory Bulb, Primary Olfactory Cortex
Exam 3 Study Guide
Chapter 14 Notes:
• Olfaction =
o based on over 350 different receptor types
▪ each sensitive to only one type of stimulus
• Odorant molecules with similar molecule structures can smell VERY DIFFERENT, and
odorants with very different structures can smell almost the SAME
• Perceived intensity of an odor increases as the concentration of odorant molecules
increases
• Detection Threshold:
o strength of an odorant’s just-detectable concentration that is necessary for
detection
• Absolute Threshold:
o absolute odor detection threshold and odor recognition threshold
• Source, distance, area, and context =
o affect concentration of odors
• Odors = play key role in sensing flavors
o if impaired olfactory, then impaired taste identification
• ORNs:
o olfactory receptor neurons
▪ transduce odorant molecules into neural signals
• Olfactory Epithelium:
o patch of tissue in the upper reaches of each nasal cavity
▪ contains ORNs and is covered by olfactory mucus
o Transduction of odorant molecules happens here
• Orthonasal Pathway:
o odor molecules in outside air enter nasal cavities through this pathway
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