hair cell vs. olfactory neurons

In the practice midterm, it asks us to compare the transduction signals btw vertebrate hair cells and olfactory neurons. The answer was that the stimulation of vertebrate hair cells leads to the release neurotransmitter. Stimulation of olfactory neurons through the olfactory receptors triggers action potentials.

BUT, i thought the hair cells also lead to action potentials, or is it because if the hair goes in one specific direction it has action potential and if the hair is stimulated the other way, it doesn't, rather it has a hyperpolarization. While, the olfactory receptors always triggers an action potential when the odorant binds to the OR. Thanks.

If you look on page 1047 of the textbook, it talks of the difference between a Crayfish stretch receptors and a hair cell. Some sensory receptors, such as the crayfish receptor and olfactory neurons, are sensory neurons that can produce APs and have an axon that extends into the CNS. Whereas hair cells lack an axon and cannot generate APs themselves; these receptors release neurotransmitters at synapses with sensory neurons.
So the hair cells release NTs that synapse with a sensory neuron, and the sensory neuron can have the AP travel down its axon.

Does this help?

So i think the main thing to look at here is that some sensory receptors are are also sensory neurons which will then just produce an action potential like olfactory neurons. Then there are two separate things, sensory receptors that receive information and then transmit it to a sensory neuron by a neurotransmitter. Hair cells receive the information and is a receptor and then releases a neurotransmitter to a sensory neuron.