Final answer:
The statement is false; not all sensory signals reach conscious perception. Sensory transduction is the process where senses convert stimuli into electrical signals, and these signals reach the CNS through cranial nerves. Certain senses may not always be consciously perceived unless the sensation is strong enough.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that all sensory signals are consciously perceived is false. Sensation occurs when sensory receptors detect sensory stimuli. However, not all sensory signals reach conscious perception; some are processed subconsciously. For instance, the visceral senses, such as those that detect blood pressure or blood sugar levels, typically do not reach conscious awareness unless the sensation is strong enough, such as when swallowing a large bolus of food.
All types of senses undergo sensory transduction by converting a stimulus into an electrical signal via the peripheral or central nervous system. This includes senses like smell and hearing, which have specific sensory receptor cells called olfactory receptors and hair cells, respectively. These receptor cells detect chemical compounds for smell and sound waves for hearing. The sensory information is then carried to the central nervous system (CNS) by cranial nerves. The action potential involved in this process is all-or-none, meaning it either occurs fully or not at all. Lastly, the parasympathetic nervous system is a division of the autonomic nervous system, not the CNS.