Chemical Receptor Sensory Systems

Chemical Receptor Sensory Systems explores chemosenses through the lens of pharmacologic theory; how chemosensory systems, from the molecular level to the behavior of organisms, must behave given that their operations are functions of receptor pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. The scientific field of the chemical senses encompasses all the biology and behavior resulting from the interaction of chemicals in the environment with receptors expressed by an organism’s sensory apparatus. Nevertheless, the field of the chemical senses is progressing largely outside of a context of pharmacology, the scientific discipline that has quantitatively defined the lawful principles under which receptors operate. The book is divided into four parts: foundational concepts, vertebrate taste, vertebrate olfaction, and a discussion of special topics in the chemosenses. Throughout the book information on concentration-dependence of chemical stimulation and likely relationship to receptor occupancy is strongly emphasized. In cases where a departure from expected pharmacologic behavior is encountered in the chemosenses, the discussion is directed toward probable explanations for the apparent disconnect. Chemical Receptor Sensory Systems provides a new resource that presents all chemosenses topics within a unifying conceptual framework of the science of pharmacology. It will be useful to a variety of researchers and graduate students in pharmacology, biology and physiology of sensory systems, researchers in sensory psychology, research scientists in food & nutritional scientists, as well as clinical staff.