Fall2019
BIO160
Adaptation,or fatigue,of the senses occurs when a sensory neuron experiences constant
eventually you do not notice the temperature of the water.This is NOT because the water has warmed up! It is because your skin has accommodated to the coldness.This occurs when the cold receptor cells stop sending an impulse,even though they are continuously stimulated with cold. If the stimulus is removed and then activated again,it will restart the impulse. In other words,if you get out of the pool long enough to acclimate again to the warm air and then jump back in, it is going to feel cold all over again.This is why you may enter a room and experience a strong odor that eventually dulls as you remain in the room. In this activity,you will see how long it takes for you to experience olfactory adaptation.
Materials needed: Cotton swab Mint(or other scent)extract
Procedure: 1. Obtain a cotton swab and place 2-3 drops of mint extract on the end of the cotton swab 2. Have your partner start a timer at the same time you plug your left nostril and place the end of the cotton swab with the mint extract under the right nostril. 3. Inhale through the right nostril and exhale through your mouth.Continue to breathe like this until the mint scent disappears. The time that elapses is how long it took your olfactory neurons to adapt to the constant stimulation. Record this time in the table below 4. Wait 1 minute and then repeat steps 2 and 3 plugging the right nostril and placing the cotton swab under the left nostril
Data/Questions: 1. How long did it take for your left nostril to acclimate?
2. How long did it take for your right nostril to acclimate?
3. Some scented candles are designed to change scents over time.Why would these
