Question 1

Which of the TRP channels are the most sensitive to even the slightest change in temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  ANKTM1 
B)  TRPM8 
C)  TRPV4 
D)  TRPV3 
E)  TRPV1 
A)  ANKTM1 
B)  TRPM8 
C)  TRPV4 
D)  TRPV3 
E)  TRPV1 C

Question 2

How are nuclear bag fibers and nuclear chain fibers similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  Multinucleation 
B)  The arrangement of nuclei 
C)  Sensitivity to changes in muscle length 
D)  Sensitivity to how fast muscle length changes 
E)  The type of afferents they use 
A)  Multinucleation 
B)  The arrangement of nuclei 
C)  Sensitivity to changes in muscle length 
D)  Sensitivity to how fast muscle length changes 
E)  The type of afferents they use A

Question 3

Which of the five categories of taste means that the taste receptor is stimulated by a sodium ion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sweet 
B)  Salty 
C)  Bitter 
D)  Sour 
E)  Unami 
A)  Sweet 
B)  Salty 
C)  Bitter 
D)  Sour 
E)  Unami B

Question 4

It is well known that prolonged direct contact of skin against cold surfaces or ice water (⸰ C) is painful. This is because of

Accepted Answer

A)  tissue damage. 
B)  cell and tissue death. 
C)  nociceptor activation. 
D)  ANKTM1 activation. 
E)  vanilloid receptor activation. 
A)  tissue damage. 
B)  cell and tissue death. 
C)  nociceptor activation. 
D)  ANKTM1 activation. 
E)  vanilloid receptor activation.

Question 5

According to the gating spring hypothesis, transduction occurs because

Accepted Answer

A)  Deflection in the negative direction (tallest-to-shortest stereocilia) pulls on the tip links, leading to a deformation and subsequent opening of transduction ion channels. 
B)  Deflection in the positive direction (shortest-to-tallest stereocilia) pulls on the tip links, leading to a deformation and subsequent opening of transduction ion channels. 
C)  Tip links are bent, causing a deformation of the aligned stereocilia, thereby opening the transduction ion channels. 
D)  Tip links are broken off, which facilitates deformation of the aligned stereocilia, thereby opening the transduction ion channels. 
E)  Calcium-dependent potassium channels are activated, allowing potassium to enter to depolarize the cell. 
A)  Deflection in the negative direction (tallest-to-shortest stereocilia) pulls on the tip links, leading to a deformation and subsequent opening of transduction ion channels. 
B)  Deflection in the positive direction (shortest-to-tallest stereocilia) pulls on the tip links, leading to a deformation and subsequent opening of transduction ion channels. 
C)  Tip links are bent, causing a deformation of the aligned stereocilia, thereby opening the transduction ion channels. 
D)  Tip links are broken off, which facilitates deformation of the aligned stereocilia, thereby opening the transduction ion channels. 
E)  Calcium-dependent potassium channels are activated, allowing potassium to enter to depolarize the cell.

Question 6

Experimentally, to differentiate rapidly adapting receptors from slowly adapting receptors would be to determine

Accepted Answer

A)  the peak of the electrical potentials in the response. 
B)  if the preparation is responding by firing action potentials or excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. 
C)  the relative frequency and pattern (start strong, end weak) of action potentials for the duration of the stimulus. 
D)  the relative frequency and pattern of excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic potentials for the duration of the stimulus. 
E)  whether action potentials are firing when the stimulus starts and then cease when the stimulus ends. 
A)  the peak of the electrical potentials in the response. 
B)  if the preparation is responding by firing action potentials or excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. 
C)  the relative frequency and pattern (start strong, end weak) of action potentials for the duration of the stimulus. 
D)  the relative frequency and pattern of excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic potentials for the duration of the stimulus. 
E)  whether action potentials are firing when the stimulus starts and then cease when the stimulus ends.

Question 7

Mammals vary greatly in their ability to smell odors. Which property about the olfactory epithelium do you suppose is responsible for the ability of an animal to detect various odors and its sensitivity to them?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of turbinates that support the olfactory epithelium 
B)  The density of odorant receptor genes expressed by different populations of olfactory receptor neurons 
C)  The actual density of odorant receptors themselves on olfactory sensory neurons 
D)  The size of the olfactory epithelium 
E)  The number of turbinates plus the density of the odorant receptors on the olfactory sensory neurons 
A)  The number of turbinates that support the olfactory epithelium 
B)  The density of odorant receptor genes expressed by different populations of olfactory receptor neurons 
C)  The actual density of odorant receptors themselves on olfactory sensory neurons 
D)  The size of the olfactory epithelium 
E)  The number of turbinates plus the density of the odorant receptors on the olfactory sensory neurons

Question 8

The hair on hair cell receptors are composed of

Accepted Answer

A)  actin polymers. 
B)  tubulin polymers. 
C)  keratin. 
D)  a mixture of actin and lipids. 
E)  a mixture of actin and keratin. 
A)  actin polymers. 
B)  tubulin polymers. 
C)  keratin. 
D)  a mixture of actin and lipids. 
E)  a mixture of actin and keratin.

Question 9

Which of the five categories of taste means that the taste receptor is stimulated by a proton?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sweet 
B)  Salty 
C)  Bitter 
D)  Sour 
E)  Unami 
A)  Sweet 
B)  Salty 
C)  Bitter 
D)  Sour 
E)  Unami

Question 10

Based on current knowledge of the tip links, the next experimental step(s) should be to

Accepted Answer

A)  characterize the energetics (e.g., energy of activation) of deformation of the stereocilia. 
B)  determine the minimum amount of force needed to bend the stereocilia to threshold so that action potentials fire. 
C)  determine the specificity (e.g., potassium? calcium?) of the transduction ion channel. 
D)  determine the kinetics of ion transport through the transduction channel. 
E)  purify, characterize, and then clone the proteins of which the tip links are composed. 
A)  characterize the energetics (e.g., energy of activation) of deformation of the stereocilia. 
B)  determine the minimum amount of force needed to bend the stereocilia to threshold so that action potentials fire. 
C)  determine the specificity (e.g., potassium? calcium?) of the transduction ion channel. 
D)  determine the kinetics of ion transport through the transduction channel. 
E)  purify, characterize, and then clone the proteins of which the tip links are composed.

Question 11

What is the plausible range of how different the affinities of the same odorant receptors can be?

Accepted Answer

A)  1-10 mM 
B)  1-10 µM 
C)  1-10 nM 
D)  1-10 pM 
E)  1-10 fM 
A)  1-10 mM 
B)  1-10 µM 
C)  1-10 nM 
D)  1-10 pM 
E)  1-10 fM

Question 12

What comes in direct contact with the stereocilia of the hair cells in the cochlea and semicircular canals?

Accepted Answer

The hair cells in the cochlea are stimul

Question 13

When people are suffering from head colds, they often cannot smell food as well because

Accepted Answer

A)  the sense of taste is impaired as well. 
B)  the sense of smell and taste are intertwined centrally. 
C)  the sense of smell and taste are intertwined peripherally. 
D)  only the taste rather than their corresponding odors are being detected. 
E)  the cortical areas for detecting taste and smell are the same. 
A)  the sense of taste is impaired as well. 
B)  the sense of smell and taste are intertwined centrally. 
C)  the sense of smell and taste are intertwined peripherally. 
D)  only the taste rather than their corresponding odors are being detected. 
E)  the cortical areas for detecting taste and smell are the same.

Question 14

At least two distinct cadherins have been identified as being essential for the function of tip links. What kind(s) of experiments/studies should be performed to characterize how tip links open the transduction channels?

Accepted Answer

The cadherins and transduction channels

Question 15

Is it valid to apply the Weber-Fechner Law to changes in skin temperature.

Accepted Answer

No. The Weber-Fechner Law uses a logarit

Question 16

Olfactory receptor cells are embedded in the ???_______, whereas taste receptor cells are embedded in _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  ethmoid bone, mucosa 
B)  mucus membrane of the olfactory epithelium, taste buds 
C)  mucus membrane of the olfactory epithelium, the tongue 
D)  nostrils, taste buds 
E)  glomeruli, taste buds 
A)  ethmoid bone, mucosa 
B)  mucus membrane of the olfactory epithelium, taste buds 
C)  mucus membrane of the olfactory epithelium, the tongue 
D)  nostrils, taste buds 
E)  glomeruli, taste buds

Question 17

Which odorant molecules would probably bind several different isoforms of the same receptor type (GPCR)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gasoline 
B)  Leaves burning 
C)  Sugar burning 
D)  Acetone 
E)  Hot coffee 
A)  Gasoline 
B)  Leaves burning 
C)  Sugar burning 
D)  Acetone 
E)  Hot coffee

Question 18

Which of the TRP channels are activated at higher temperatures (greater than 37⸰C)?

Accepted Answer

A)  ANKTM1 
B)  TRPM8 
C)  TRPV4 
D)  TRPV3 and TRPV1 
E)  TRPV1 and TRPV2 
A)  ANKTM1 
B)  TRPM8 
C)  TRPV4 
D)  TRPV3 and TRPV1 
E)  TRPV1 and TRPV2

Question 19

Long receptors are much better able to adapt to different stimulus intensities mostly because

Accepted Answer

A)  their axons are much longer. 
B)  their somas are much larger. 
C)  both presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are capable of changing the shape and size of the synapse. 
D)  long receptors usually release more neurotransmitter than short ones do. 
E)  electrical potentials travel faster in long receptors than in short receptors. 
A)  their axons are much longer. 
B)  their somas are much larger. 
C)  both presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are capable of changing the shape and size of the synapse. 
D)  long receptors usually release more neurotransmitter than short ones do. 
E)  electrical potentials travel faster in long receptors than in short receptors.

Question 20

How do the afferents of taste receptor cells and olfactory receptor cells differ?

Accepted Answer

A taste bud is comprised of basal cells,

Exam 21: Sensory Transduction

Which of the TRP channels are the most sensitive to even the slightest change in temperature?

How are nuclear bag fibers and nuclear chain fibers similar?

Which of the five categories of taste means that the taste receptor is stimulated by a sodium ion?

It is well known that prolonged direct contact of skin against cold surfaces or ice water (<15⸰ C) is painful. This is because of

According to the gating spring hypothesis, transduction occurs because

Experimentally, to differentiate rapidly adapting receptors from slowly adapting receptors would be to determine

Mammals vary greatly in their ability to smell odors. Which property about the olfactory epithelium do you suppose is responsible for the ability of an animal to detect various odors and its sensitivity to them?

The hair on hair cell receptors are composed of

Which of the five categories of taste means that the taste receptor is stimulated by a proton?

Based on current knowledge of the tip links, the next experimental step(s) should be to

What is the plausible range of how different the affinities of the same odorant receptors can be?

What comes in direct contact with the stereocilia of the hair cells in the cochlea and semicircular canals?

When people are suffering from head colds, they often cannot smell food as well because

At least two distinct cadherins have been identified as being essential for the function of tip links. What kind(s) of experiments/studies should be performed to characterize how tip links open the transduction channels?

Is it valid to apply the Weber-Fechner Law to changes in skin temperature.

Olfactory receptor cells are embedded in the ???_______, whereas taste receptor cells are embedded in _______.

Which odorant molecules would probably bind several different isoforms of the same receptor type (GPCR)?

Which of the TRP channels are activated at higher temperatures (greater than 37⸰C)?

Long receptors are much better able to adapt to different stimulus intensities mostly because

How do the afferents of taste receptor cells and olfactory receptor cells differ?

Principles of Signaling and Organization

Signaling in the Visual System

Functional Architecture of the Visual Cortex

Ion Channels and Signaling

Structure of Ion Channels

Ionic Basis of the Resting Potential

Ionic Basis of the Action Potential

Electrical Signaling in Neurons

Ion Transport Across Cell Membranes

Properties and Functions of Neuroglial Cells

Mechanisms of Direct Synaptic Transmission

Indirect Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Release of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters in the Central Nervous System

Transmitter Synthesis, Storage, Transport, and Inactivation

Synaptic Plasticity

The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Synaptic Plasticity

Mechanisms of Extrasynaptic Communication

Autonomic Nervous System

Walking, Flying, and Swimming: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Behavior in Invertebrates

Transduction and Transmission in the Retina

Touch, Pain, and Texture Sensation

Auditory and Vestibular Sensation

Constructing Perception

Initiation and Control of Coordinated Muscular Movements

Development of the Nervous System

Critical Periods in Sensory Systems

Regeneration and Repair of Synaptic Connections After Injury

Appendix

Filters

It is well known that prolonged direct contact of skin against cold surfaces or ice water (<15^⸰ C) is painful. This is because of

Olfactory receptor cells are embedded in the ???_, whereas taste receptor cells are embedded in _.

Which of the TRP channels are activated at higher temperatures (greater than 37^⸰C)?