5. If an individual has a lesion on the brain that damages cranial nerve I, which of the following senses will be impacted?
Answer: C
Smell will be impacted.
A lesion on the brain that damages cranial nerve I will directly affect the sense of smell, as this nerve is responsible for olfactory function.
A) Sight
Sight is primarily governed by cranial nerve II, which is the optic nerve. A lesion affecting cranial nerve I would not have any impact on visual processing or the ability to see.
B) Touch
The sense of touch is mediated by various nerves in the peripheral nervous system, particularly the somatosensory pathways, and is not influenced by cranial nerve I. Therefore, damage to this nerve would not affect the ability to perceive tactile information.
C) Smell
Cranial nerve I, also known as the olfactory nerve, is specifically responsible for the sense of smell. Damage to this nerve would result in anosmia, or the loss of the ability to smell, making this option correct.
D) Taste
The sense of taste is primarily associated with cranial nerves VII (facial), IX (glossopharyngeal), and X (vagus). Since cranial nerve I does not play a role in taste perception, it would not be affected by a lesion on this nerve.
Conclusion
The correct answer is C) Smell, as cranial nerve I is directly responsible for olfactory function. All other options, including sight, touch, and taste, are governed by different cranial nerves, making them unaffected by damage to cranial nerve I. Thus, only the sense of smell is impacted in this scenario.