MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 18: Answer and Explanation

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Test Information

Question: 18

3. A woman is at a restaurant and orders a spicy entrée. After the first bite, she experiences burning in her mouth and becomes concerned that her food is too hot for her. The next few bites are similarly uncomfortable, but after a while the spiciness seems to subside somewhat, and by the end of the meal, she doesn't notice the spice level. The end of the meal experience is best described as:

  • A. adaptation.
  • B. signal detection.
  • C. a difference threshold.
  • D. pain perception.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The spicy food can be considered an extreme stimulus because it eclipses what the woman believes she can handle in terms of heat. However, after experiencing the stimulus over and over, the experience of spice drops to barely perceptible. This is sensory adaptation: a reduction in response to a stimulus over time.

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