Final answer:
The statement is false. Sensory adaptation can reduce sensitivity to new odors after prolonged exposure to a constant scent, as olfactory receptors may have become less responsive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that sensory adaptation to one scent will not diminish sensitivity to new odors is false. Sensory adaptation occurs when our sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli over time. This adaptation allows us to ignore background odors, but it can temporarily reduce our sensitivity to new odors as well.
Humans can discriminate a vast number of different odorants thanks to our hundreds of olfactory receptors. Research suggests there may be over a trillion detectable smells. However, after being exposed to a particular scent for a period of time, we may experience sensory adaptation, which is essentially the nerves 'getting used to' the smell, resulting in a decreased response to that particular stimulus. Therefore, when first encountering a new odor after this adaptation, our sensitivity may seem diminished because our olfactory receptors need to 'reset' from the previous constant scent. This can make it harder to perceive new smells until the adaptation to the previous odor decreases.