Final answer:
The gustatory system cannot discriminate as many compounds as the olfactory system, which is far more extensive in the range of detectable chemicals. Gustation recognizes primarily five basic tastes, while olfaction can detect approximately 10,000 different odorants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the gustatory system can discriminate as many compounds as the olfactory system is false. Human olfaction can detect about 10,000 different odorants, while gustation recognizes far fewer compounds. The taste system, or gustation, until recently was thought to be comprised of only four basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Later, umami was recognized as the fifth basic taste, and recent research suggests a possible sixth taste for fats.
Gustation and olfaction are similar in that they are both chemical senses. They use sensory receptors that specifically bind to taste and odor molecules, conveying information to the brain. However, the olfactory system has a far more extensive range of detectable chemicals compared to the gustatory system.