Section: Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

55) Which of the following statements identifies a chemically based sensory system?

1. Gustatory system
2. Auditory system
3. Olfactory system

1. I only
2. II only
3. III only
4. I and III only

Statement I is correct. The gustatory system, or our sense of taste, is mediated by the chemical interaction between the compounds in the food we eat and our taste bud receptors. Statement II is incorrect. The auditory system is based on the mechanotransduction capabilities of inner ear cells, which take a mechanical stimulus (sound waves) and convert it into a neural stimulus. Statement III in correct. The olfactory system, or our sense of smell, is mediated by the chemical interaction between the compounds in the air and our olfactory receptors. Answer choice D is therefore the correct answer.