Sensory Physiology Overview
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Questions and Answers

What effect does a longer and stronger stimulus have on neurotransmitter release?

  • It decreases neurotransmitter release.
  • It inhibits neurotransmitter release.
  • It has no effect on neurotransmitter release.
  • It leads to the release of more neurotransmitters. (correct)
  • What is the function of receptive fields in regards to neuron activity?

  • They regulate the amplitude of action potentials.
  • They affect the speed of signal transmission.
  • They define the part of sensory space influencing a neuron. (correct)
  • They determine the threshold membrane potential.
  • At what threshold does the membrane potential become sufficient to elicit an action potential?

  • At -20 mV
  • Below -80 mV
  • At the threshold level, typically around -55 mV (correct)
  • Above zero mV
  • How does the amplitude of a stimulus affect the membrane potential?

    <p>Higher amplitude corresponds to a higher peak in membrane potential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated if a stimulus has a smaller amplitude and shorter duration?

    <p>It can cause minor changes in membrane potential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between action potentials and receptor potentials?

    <p>Receptor potentials can vary in amplitude and duration, while action potentials are uniform.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a stronger stimulus affect receptor potentials?

    <p>It produces a larger and longer receptor potential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs immediately after the alteration of receptor membrane due to stimulus application?

    <p>Local current flow takes place within the receptor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of receptors are primarily responsible for detecting tissue damage?

    <p>Nociceptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of sensory receptor is mainly responsible for detecting wavelengths in the visible spectrum?

    <p>Photoreceptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What triggers the change in frequency of action potentials?

    <p>The change in receptor potential due to stimulus intensity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of afferent neurons in the peripheral nervous system?

    <p>To transduce stimuli into action potentials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement correctly describes the propagation of action potentials?

    <p>Action potentials flow down the axon without dissipating once initiated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the function of thermoreceptors?

    <p>Detects changes in temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens during the transduction process at a complex neural receptor?

    <p>Na+ channels in the receptor membrane typically open.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best represents the role of the central nervous system (CNS) in sensation?

    <p>To receive, interpret, and respond to sensory information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of energy do mechanoreceptors primarily respond to?

    <p>Mechanical energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sensory modalities is NOT classified under the special senses?

    <p>Touch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of cells are responsible for olfaction?

    <p>Primary sensory neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many different odor receptors do humans have approximately?

    <p>350</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the five primary taste sensations recognized in taste perception?

    <p>Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many taste buds do humans typically have?

    <p>2000-5000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the central nervous system is NOT mentioned as important for sensory physiology?

    <p>Spinal Cord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which lobe of the brain is primarily associated with movement and cognition?

    <p>Frontal Lobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What sensory function is associated with the auditory cortex?

    <p>Hearing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the nervous system is responsible for the sense of balance?

    <p>Vestibular Apparatus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which area of the brain is involved in processing visual information?

    <p>Visual Cortex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary region in the brain for processing the sense of touch?

    <p>Somatosensory Cortex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Sensory Physiology Overview

    • Sensory Physiology is a study of the nervous system, covering general sensory system properties, somatic senses, vision, hearing, and the spinal cord/motor cortex.

    Overview of This Section

    • General Properties of Sensory Systems: Includes smell and taste.
    • Somatic Senses: Focuses on touch, temperature, and pain.
    • Vision
    • Hearing
    • Spinal Cord and Motor Cortex

    Sensation and Motor Control

    • Sensory input is transmitted through the nervous system to the brain.
    • The brain integrates the sensory information.
    • Motor output is created based on the brain's integration.
    • The process illustrates how sensory input affects motor control.

    Basic Principles of Sensation

    • The afferent division of the peripheral nervous system provides information about the internal and external environment.
    • Our bodies detect specific types of energies or stimulus modalities.
    • Specialized receptors within the afferent division convert stimuli into action potentials, transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS).

    General Overview

    • A stimulus is converted into a response through receptors, neurons, and the CNS.
    • The CNS interprets and responds to the sensory information.

    Types of Sensory Receptors

    • Photoreceptors respond to wavelengths within the visible spectrum.
    • Mechanoreceptors detect mechanical energy like stretch, deformation, or bending.
    • Chemoreceptors detect specific chemicals.
    • Nociceptors are pain receptors triggered by tissue damage.
    • Thermoreceptors detect heat and cold.
    • Osmoreceptors monitor solute concentration and osmotic activity.

    Two Classes of Sensory Receptors

    • Complex Neural Receptors have specialized nerve endings, myelinated axons, and cell bodies (e.g., olfaction and somatic senses).
    • Special Senses Receptors include specialized receptors, synapses, myelinated axons, and cell bodies(e.g., vision, hearing, balance, and taste).

    Transduction at Complex Neural Receptor

    • Stimulus application alters the receptor membrane (e.g., opening sodium channels).
    • There's a current flow within the receptor.
    • Graded potentials, known as receptor potentials, alter in frequency.
    • Action potentials traverse the central nervous system.

    Transduction at Special Senses Receptor

    • Stimulus application alters receptor membrane (e.g., light causing sodium channels to close).
    • Local current flow creates receptor potentials (graded potentials).
    • Neurotransmitters are released.
    • Postsynaptic membrane potential changes.
    • Frequency of action potentials (APs) varies.
    • APs travel to the central nervous system.

    Action Potentials vs. Receptor Potentials

    • Receptor potentials differ from action potentials.
    • Action potentials are all-or-none events propagating down the axon.
    • Receptor potentials are graded, varying in amplitude and dissipating over time and distance.

    Intensity and Duration of Stimulus

    • Stronger or longer stimulus leads to higher-frequency action potentials.
    • This results in more neurotransmitter release.

    Receptive Fields

    • A receptive field is the part of the sensory space that can affect a neuron's activity.

    Smell

    • Olfactory receptor cells (primary sensory neurons) synapse with secondary neurons in the olfactory bulb.
    • About 350 different odor receptors.
    • Combinations of signals from these neurons allow us to perceive various smells.

    Taste

    • Taste is a combination of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami sensations.
    • About 2000-5000 taste buds.
    • Each taste bud has 50-150 taste cells (non-neural epithelial).
    • These taste cells are responsible for taste transduction.

    Important Structures of the CNS for Sensory Physiology

    • Cerebrum (cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system)
    • Cerebellum
    • Brain stem (medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain)
    • Diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, pituitary gland)
    • Spinal cord

    Cortical Anatomy

    • Frontal lobe (movement and cognition)
    • Parietal lobe (sensation)
    • Temporal lobe (hearing and object perception)
    • Occipital lobe (vision)

    Smell – Brain Pathways

    • Olfactory cortex and olfactory bulb involved.

    Taste – Brain Pathways

    • Gustatory cortex, thalamus, and brain stem involved.

    Touch – Somatic Senses- Brain Pathways

    • Somatosensory cortex, thalamus, and brain stem involved.

    Vision – Brain Pathways

    • Thalamus and visual cortex are part of the pathway.

    Hearing – Brain Pathways

    • Thalamus and auditory cortex are part of the pathway.

    Balance – Brain Pathways

    • Thalamus and the vestibular apparatus are part of the pathway.

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    Sensory Physiology Notes PDF

    Description

    Explore the intriguing world of sensory physiology, which encompasses the study of the nervous system, sensory systems, and motor control. This overview covers essential topics like vision, hearing, somatic senses, and the role of the spinal cord in sensory integration.

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