General Psychology
Barney Beins

Concept Check 4.5


Comparing Taste, Smell, and Touch

Check your understanding of taste, smell, and touch by comparing these sensory systems on the dimensions listed in the first column below. A few answers are supplied; see whether you can fill in the rest.

Dimension Taste Smell Touch
1. Stimulus   Volatile chemicals in air  
2. Number of types of receptors     Many (at least 6) types
3. Location of receptors   Upper areas of nasal passages  
4. Basic elements of perception Sweet, sour,
salty, bitter