Question

Compare and contrast taste and smell. For example, why is it that taste appears to have a small set of basic qualities, while smell does not? You should explain the basic theories underlying the perception of each, including how specificity coding vs. population coding apply to each. You should also include in your discussion how the two combine to produce flavor.

Answer 1

• There is relationship between taste and smell, because both require similar receptors, that is chemoreceptors. Both taste and smell sense get joined at end of throat.
• Smell and taste get dissolved in different substance, that is smell dissolves in mucus whereas taste dissolves in saliva. Taste is the indication of toung whereas smell is the indication of nose.
• Population coding of taste tells that, the quality of taste is determined by the action of neuron population. Tasting starts from taste buds to the cranial nerves, to medulla, then towards thalamus, to cortex.
• Taste coding represent the pleasing, unpleasing, identity and concentraction of tastants transfered to the brain. Odor coding explains the transfer of tiny molecules to odor neural task, in a olfactory circuit.
• Flavour is a combination of taste and smell. Odor molecules from the nose and the taste molecules from the toung initiate neural response, and it will get joined result in flavour.