Final answer:
Thermoceptors are responsible for temperature perception, being sensitive to heat and cold, while nociceptors detect potentially damaging stimuli signifying pain. The correct answer is Option A) Temperature perception and pain perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Thermoceptors and Nociceptors Function
Thermoceptors and nociceptors are types of sensory receptors that are fundamental in our perception of temperature and pain, respectively. Thermoceptors are activated by changes in local temperatures away from the body's baseline temperature, with specific receptors being sensitive to cold or heat. Nociceptors, on the other hand, respond to potentially damaging stimuli such as mechanical, chemical, or thermal disturbances that exceed a certain threshold, signifying pain. These receptors can be activated by chemicals released from stressed tissues, an example being the capsaicin found in hot peppers, which binds to nociceptors and can cause a long-lasting sensation of heat.
Given this information, the correct answer to the student's question on how thermoceptors and nociceptors work is Option A) Temperature perception and pain perception. Thermoceptors are responsible for detecting variations in temperatures, whereas nociceptors detect painful stimuli.