Hunger and Chemical Senses (Winter 2023)

Which of the following accurately describes how taste is processed in the brain?

• Taste information is sent from the hypothalamus to the medulla, and then to the primary somatosensory cortex and the gustatory cortex.

• Taste information is sent from the medulla to the hypothalamus, and then to the primary somatosensory cortex and the gustatory cortex.

• Texture is processed in the primary somatosensory cortex. The gustatory cortex passes on information about taste to be later combined with olfactory information.

• Texture is processed in the gustatory cortex. The primary somatosensory cortex processes information about nutritional value. 

Mitchell's liver is correctly identifying glucose levels in his blood. Jay's liver is incorrectly identifying glucose levels in his blood. What would be the key difference between Mitchell's and Jay's liver activity?

• Mitchell's, but not Jay's, liver would consistently break down glycogen into glucose when glucose levels are low.

• Jay's, but not Mitchell's, liver would consistently break down glycogen into glucose when glucose levels are low.

• Mitchell's, but not Jay's, liver would be converting glucose into glycogen when glycogen levels are low.

• Jay's but not Mitchell's liver would be converting glucose into adipose tissue when glycogen levels are low.

Which of the following will signal satiety?

• High levels of CCK

• Low levels of leptin

• Low levels of glucose

• High levels of NPY

In an effort to lose some weight, Samantha decides to inject herself with extra leptin every day. Which of the following will most likely occur?

• Her weight would likely decrease quite drastically, and she would likely eat less food on a daily basis.

• The NPY activity in her hypothalamus would likely increase overall, incited by the increase in leptin.

• Because adipose tissue secretes leptin, it would likely cause the degradation of adipose tissue leading to weight loss over time.

• There would likely be no effect on her weight overall, as having extra leptin has not been shown to reliably result in weight loss.

Which of the following correctly describes the sensation of smell?

• Olfactory receptor cells are activated and send electrical signals to the somatosensory cortex.

• Odorants bind to receptors and are directly sent to the prefrontal cortex.

• Olfactory receptor cells are activated and send electric signals that are relayed through glomeruli.

• Odorants bind to receptors and are sent to the thalamus for processing.