Sensory-Transducing Cells That Fire Both Graded Potentials and Action Potentials

Question

Sensory-transducing cells that fire both graded potentials and action potentials are found in
A)vision.
B)gustation.
C)olfaction.
D)audition.

Accepted Answer

Olfaction (sense of smell) involves sensory-transducing cells that fire both graded potentials (depolarizations) and action potentials in response to odorants binding to their receptors. This firing pattern results in the release of neurotransmitters that trigger action potentials in the olfactory nerve fibers. In contrast, vision (A), gustation (B), and audition (D) have sensory-transducing cells that generate graded potentials in response to light, taste stimuli, and sound waves, respectively. These graded potentials then trigger action potentials in the sensory neurons that transmit the sensory information to the brain.