Final answer:
Nociceptors are important for detecting pain. They are activated by mechanical, chemical, or thermal stimuli beyond a set threshold.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nociceptors are important for detecting pain. Nociception is the sensation of potentially damaging stimuli, and nociceptors are activated by mechanical, chemical, or thermal stimuli beyond a set threshold. For example, the sensation of heat associated with spicy foods involves capsaicin, the active molecule in hot peppers, which binds to a transmembrane ion channel in nociceptors that is sensitive to temperatures above 37°C.