Sensory Systems Overview

Sensory receptors convert external energy stimuli into the electrochemical language of neurons.

Labeled lines allow specific neurons to be associated with particular sensory experiences, aiding in stimulus discrimination.

Stimulus intensity is represented by the frequency of action potentials generated by the sensory receptors.

<p>Sensory adaptation refers to a progressive loss of response to a maintained stimulus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Smell (detects odorous substances) and taste (detects substances in contact with the tongue).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The hearing sensory system is activated by sound vibrations, allowing us to perceive auditory information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mechanical systems respond to physical forces (like touch and pain), while thermal systems respond to temperature changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Electroreception detects differences in electrical currents, which is critical for some aquatic animals in navigation and hunting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Spatial properties allow the brain to localize where a stimulus originates through specific pathways or labeled lines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sense of pain detects tissue damage, alerting the body to potential injury.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tonic receptors display little or no adaptation, while phasic receptors exhibit adaptation to sustained stimuli.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Top-down neural control suppresses sensory input by filtering or modulating the incoming signals from the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>First order neurons synapse in the ipsilateral dorsal column nuclei, second order neurons synapse in the contralateral thalamus, and third order neurons synapse in the contralateral somatosensory cortex.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TRP channels are ion channels involved in sensory transduction; TRPV1 responds to capsaicin and high temperatures, while TRPM8 responds to cold temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Congenital analgesia is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the Na+V1.7 channel, leading to an inability to perceive pain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>First order neurons synapse in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, second order neurons synapse in the contralateral thalamus, and third order neurons synapse in the contralateral somatosensory cortex.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Labeled lines' refers to the concept that different sensory modalities are processed along distinct neural pathways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Meissner corpuscles are sensitive to light touch and vibration, while Pacinian corpuscles respond to deep pressure and high-frequency vibrations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Serotonin is released from neurons synapsing in the raphe nucleus, which modulates pain signaling in the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Itch sensations are linked to C-fibers, which are free nerve endings sensitive to histamine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sensory receptors convert external stimuli into electrochemical signals and allow the perception of different sensory experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Stimulus coding indicates that a greater intensity of a stimulus generates more action potentials, signaling a stronger perception of that stimulus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Labeled lines refer to specific neurons that transmit distinct sensory information, allowing the brain to differentiate between different sensations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sensory adaptation is the progressive loss of response to a constant stimulus, allowing organisms to focus on changes in their environment rather than persistent stimuli.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Spatial representation relies on labeled lines that convey the location of stimuli, allowing for precise localization of sensations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pain involves the activation of nociceptors in response to tissue damage, while touch involves mechanoreceptors that respond to physical contact.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Chemical sensors in taste interact directly with substances on the tongue, while olfactory sensors detect airborne odorous molecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Electroreception processes differences in electrical currents, primarily used for spatial orientation in some species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mechanical sensory systems detect physical forces like touch and pressure, while thermal sensory systems sense temperature changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TRPV1 receptors respond to heat and pain, while TRPM8 receptors are activated by cold temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tonic receptors display little or no adaptation, while phasic receptors exhibit adaptation to constant stimuli.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In the dorsal column system, first order neurons synapse in ipsilateral dorsal column nuclei, second order neurons synapse in contralateral thalamus, and third order neurons synapse in the contralateral somatosensory cortex.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TRP channels, such as TRPV1, TRPM3, and TRPM8, are involved in sensing temperature and pain, responding to specific stimuli like high temperatures or capsaicin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Descending pain modulation involves pathways that synapse in the periaqueductal gray, raphe nucleus, and spinal cord grey matter, releasing serotonin and opioids to inhibit pain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Itch fibers respond primarily to histamine and chloroquine-like substances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>First order neurons in the anterolateral system synapse in the ipsilateral dorsal horn of the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Congenital analgesia is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the Na+V1.7 channel, resulting in the absence of pain sensation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Accessory structures, like closing your eyes, limit sensory input directly, while top-down neural control uses cognitive processes to filter or suppress sensory information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Labeled lines' refers to the concept that specific pathways carry distinct types of sensory information, allowing the brain to correctly interpret different stimuli.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Meissner corpuscles are sensitive to light touch and vibration, while Merkel discs are responsible for detecting sustained pressure and texture.</p> Signup and view all the answers