The author of the passage discusses “receptor fatigue”

The decrease in responsiveness that follows continuous stimulation (adaptation) is common to all sensory systems, including olfaction. With continued exposure to chronically present ambient odors, individuals’ perception of odor intensity is greatly reduced. Moreover, these perceptual changes can be profound and durable. It is commonly reported that following extended absences from the odorous environment, reexposure may still fail to elicit perception at the original intensity. Most research on olfactory adaptation examines relatively transient changes in stimulus detection or perceived intensity—rarely exceeding several hours and often less—but because olfactory adaptation can be produced with relatively short exposures, these durations are sufficient for investigating many parameters of the phenomenon. However, exposures to odors in natural environments often occur over far longer periods, and the resulting adaptations may differ qualitatively from short-term olfactory adaptation. For example, studies show that even brief periods of odorant stimulation produce transient reductions in receptors in the olfactory epithelium, a process termed “receptor fatigue.” Prolonged odor stimulation, however, could produce more long-lasting reductions in response, possibly involving structures higher in the central nervous system pathway. The author of the passage discusses “receptor fatigue” (line 24) primarily in order to explain the physiological process through which long-lasting reductions in response are thought to be produced, provide an example of a process that subjects would probably not experience during a prolonged period of odorant stimulation, help illustrate how the information gathered from most olfactory research may not be sufficient to describe the effects of extended exposures to odors, show how studies of short-term olfactory adaptation have only accounted for the reductions in response that follow relatively brief absences from an odorous environment, qualify a statement about the severity and duration of the perceptual changes caused by exposure to chronically present ambient odors

3 Explanations

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Taekmin Nam

Hi, could you explain why D is not the answer? 'Studies show that even brief periods of odorant stimulation produce transient reductions in receptors in the olfactory epithelium, a process termed "receptor fatigue."' this part to me seems to be exactly what D is trying to say. Is it because the author is trying to evince a contrast between Long term and short term processes more than anything else?

Feb 26, 2020 • Comment

Adam

Hey there!
Choice D talks about short absences from the odorous environment. This is never discussed in the passage. It talks about short exposures to the odorous environment, and it talks about extended absences from the odorous environment. However, it never talks about short absences. So D isn't relevant to what the passage discusses.
Hope that helps!

Mar 10, 2020 • Reply

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PEILIN GUO

Hi, could you please explain why B is not correct? Thanks a lot.

Mar 21, 2018 • Comment

Sam Kinsman

Hi Pelini,

B says that the author mentions "receptor fatigue" in order to "provide an example of a process that subjects would probably not experience during a prolonged period of odorant stimulation."

In the text, the author does distinguish between the results of long term and short term odor stimulation. However, the author is not saying that "receptor fatigue" happens only after short term odor stimulation. Instead, the author says that "receptor fatigue" can happen after "even brief periods of odorant stimulation" - and this implies that that "receptor fatigue" can also happen after long periods of odorant stimulation.

Mar 21, 2018 • Reply

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Chris Lele