The Sensory System

Mr. Andersen discusses the sensory system, explaining how senses like sight, hearing, and smell work by converting external stimuli into nerve signals called action potentials. He highlights the brain's complex role in interpreting these signals and challenges the notion of having only five senses, suggesting we have about 25. The video covers the mechanisms of smell, vision, and hearing, detailing how each sense processes information and sends it to the brain. The importance of understanding these processes is emphasized, as it reveals the intricate ways our bodies interact with the environment.

What is the primary function of the sensory system?

• To control muscle movements

• To transfer information to the brain

• To create new senses

• To generate emotions

How does the brain differentiate between different signals?

• By the speed of the signals

• By the color of the signals

• By the size of the action potentials

• By the origin and frequency of the action potentials

How does the brain interpret the intensity of a sound?

• By the color of the sound

• By the number of action potentials

• By the size of the sound waves

• By the speed of the sound

How many senses do humans actually have according to the podcast?

• Thirty

• Twenty-five

• Ten

• Five

What is kinesthetic sense responsible for?

• Detecting light

• Sensing sound

• Sensing the position and movement of the body

• Detecting chemicals

What is the role of the olfactory bulb in the sense of smell?

• To detect light

• To amplify sound

• To sense chemicals

• To control balance

What happens when you walk into a bright area after being in the dark?

• Your sense of smell is heightened

• You see nothing

• Your rods and rhodopsin are bleached, sending many action potentials

• Your eyes adjust immediately

What type of waves are involved in the sense of hearing?

• Compressional sound waves

• Light waves

• Electromagnetic waves

• Chemical waves

What is the function of the cochlea in hearing?

• To detect light

• To sense chemicals

• To vibrate fluid and send signals to the brain

• To control balance

What is the primary difference between vision and hearing in terms of sensory input?

• Vision uses sound waves, hearing uses light waves

• Both use electromagnetic radiation

• Both use compressional sound waves

• Vision uses electromagnetic radiation, hearing uses compressional sound waves