Sensory Systems Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the main advantage of using phasic signals in communication?

  • They allow for more efficient reporting of changes. (correct)
  • They provide constant updates on static situations.
  • They eliminate the need for spatial reporting.
  • They ensure all messages are repeated regularly.

In the context of sensory systems, what is meant by 'lateral inhibition'?

  • It reduces activity of neighboring cells while enhancing certain responses. (correct)
  • It functions solely in spatial contrast detection.
  • It enhances the activity of all neighboring neurons.
  • It allows for unlimited excitation among adjacent neurons.

Why is it more efficient for weather stations to report changes in conditions at edges?

  • Because neighboring stations usually have similar weather. (correct)
  • Because edges represent areas with no variation.
  • Because weather stations are designed to report every hour.
  • Because edges are inherently unstable regions.

What term is used to describe the differences between neighboring regions in sensory perception?

<p>Spatial changes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic does the concept of 'edges' in sensory systems share?

<p>They indicate strong contrasts between different stimuli. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of receptors respond specifically to light?

<p>Photoreceptors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly identifies the two main categories of senses discussed?

<p>Special and Somatic Senses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which receptors are responsible for detecting mechanical energy such as pressure and sound?

<p>Mechanoreceptors (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of receptor cells in sensory systems?

<p>To convert stimuli into electrical signals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the weakest stimulus that can cause a conscious perception in an organism?

<p>Perceptual threshold (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the transduction process in sensory receptors?

<p>Stimulus energy is converted into receptor potentials (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about receptor potentials is true?

<p>Receptor potentials are a graded change in membrane potential (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do sensory systems indicate modality?

<p>By labeled lines where specific axons carry signals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of neuron is the first in the sensory system pathway?

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

What does an adequate stimulus refer to in sensory receptors?

<p>The specific form of energy to which a receptor is most responsive (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a situation where sensory receptors respond to unexpected stimuli?

<p>Response to powerful energy forms beyond the adequate stimulus (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common function does convergence in sensory neurons serve?

<p>To allow data combination from multiple receptors (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of receptors would likely respond to changes in temperature?

<p>Thermoreceptors (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which type of sensory system are receptor cells typically neurons?

<p>Vision (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are neuronal receptor cells different from non-neuronal epithelial receptor cells?

<p>Neuronal receptors can fire action potentials (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes chemoreceptors from other types of receptors?

<p>They respond to specific molecules or ions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is population coding of intensity primarily based on?

<p>The number of active neurons (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism describes the increase in firing rates of individual neurons in response to a stronger stimulus?

<p>Frequency coding (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cell maintains its activity when the stimulus is not changing?

<p>Tonic cells (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a stimulus suddenly changes according to the dynamics of receptors and neurons?

<p>Cells respond briefly and then fall silent (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do phasic-tonic cells behave when the stimulus is constant?

<p>They continue to signal but do not return fully to zero (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do phasic cells play a crucial role in detecting motion in the visual field?

<p>They react briefly to any change and then cease firing (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely consequence of keeping your eyes fixed on a central point for an extended period?

<p>Phasic cells cease to report changes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence the signaling dynamics of receptors and neurons?

<p>The intensity of constant stimuli (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes primary neurons from secondary neurons in response to an object pressing against the skin?

<p>Primary neurons are activated in the area of contact. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do lateral inhibition effects influence tertiary neurons near the edge of contact?

<p>They allow some tertiary neurons to remain active while others become inactive. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the edge detection mechanism, which cell is most responsible for contrasting activity levels between area E and neighboring neurons?

<p>Cell A, due to its powerful excitation and inhibition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to cells C, D, G, and H in response to excitation and inhibition as described in the edge detection process?

<p>They remain inactive and at baseline activity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the role of tertiary neurons in the edge detection mechanism?

<p>They act as a contrast detector at the edge of contact. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is cell F less active than cell G in the edge detection scenario?

<p>Cell F receives more lateral inhibition than cell G. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of secondary neurons in the context of sensory responses to an object?

<p>They modulate the response of primary neurons based on inhibitory feedback. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What principle explains the cancellation of excitation and inhibition in cells near the edge of contact?

<p>The principle of lateral inhibition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sensory pathways are exceptions and do not run through the thalamus?

<p>Olfactory pathways (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the brain play in sensory processing?

<p>It infers information based on incomplete and ambiguous data. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How quickly can humans identify things visually without conscious effort?

<p>160 milliseconds (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the brain encounters unexpected coincidences in visual stimuli?

<p>It tries to find logical interpretations to explain the anomalies. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where do equilibrium pathways primarily project?

<p>Cerebellum (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the Kanizsa illusion, how does the brain interpret the visual information presented?

<p>It constructs a white triangle based on perceived shapes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the thalamus in sensory processing?

<p>To act as a relay station to the sensory cortices (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the brain often misinterpret flat shapes as three-dimensional objects?

<p>It makes quick assumptions based on expected interpretations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Transduction

The process by which a sensory receptor converts a stimulus into an electrical signal.

Adequate Stimulus

The specific form of energy to which a sensory receptor is most sensitive.

Special Senses

Special sensory receptors that detect specific stimuli like light, sound, taste, smell, and balance.

Somatic Senses

Somatic sensory receptors that detect touch, temperature, pressure, and pain.

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Internal Senses

Sensory receptors that detect changes in the body's internal environment, such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and temperature.

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Receptor Potential

A graded change in membrane potential of a receptor cell caused by a stimulus.

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Sensory Receptor

A sensory receptor that converts stimulus energy into an electrical signal, starting the sensory process.

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CNS

The central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord.

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Chemoreceptors

Receptors that respond to specific molecules or ions like glucose, oxygen, or hydrogen ions. They are essential for detecting chemical changes within the body.

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Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that respond to physical forces like pressure, vibration, gravity, and sound. They are involved in touch, hearing, and balance.

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Thermoreceptors

Receptors that respond to temperature changes, helping us perceive hot and cold.

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Photoreceptors

Receptors that respond to light, enabling us to see.

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Receptor Threshold

The weakest stimulus that can elicit a response from a receptor.

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Perceptual Threshold

The weakest stimulus that can be consciously perceived by an organism.

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Primary Sensory Neuron

The first neuron in a sensory pathway, either the receptor itself or a cell directly connected to the receptor.

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Labeled Lines

A pathway where the type of sensory information is determined by the specific neurons carrying the signal. For example, signals traveling through the visual pathway indicate light.

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Temporal changes

Changes over time, like weather patterns fluctuating from sunny to rainy, or changes in sensory input from one moment to the next.

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Spatial changes

Differences between neighboring areas, like contrasting colors in a picture or different temperatures on adjacent patches of skin.

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Edge detection

The highlighting of edges or boundaries where there is a strong contrast in spatial changes, like a sharp line between light and dark.

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Lateral inhibition

The process where a neuron suppresses the activity of its neighboring neurons, enhancing the contrast and clarity of signals.

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Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary neurons

A chain of neurons, starting with primary neurons and moving towards tertiary neurons, where lateral inhibition occurs to accentuate edges and improve signal transmission.

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Population Coding

The number of neurons firing in response to a stimulus determines its intensity.

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Frequency Coding

The rate at which a neuron fires represents the intensity of a stimulus.

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Receptors and Neurons Have Dynamics

A neuron's response is influenced by changes in stimulus rather than its steady state.

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Phasic Cells

Neurons respond briefly to any change in stimulus and then stop firing.

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Tonic Cells

Neurons maintain their activity as long as a stimulus is present, indicating its steady level.

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Phasic-Tonic Cells

Neurons respond initially to changes and then remain active at a reduced rate, signaling both change and steady level.

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Phasic Cells in the Retina

Retinal cells that are phasic are responsible for detecting movement in our visual field.

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Pink Cloud Disappearance

When we stare at a stationary object for a long time, the pink clouds disappear because our phasic cells stop firing due to lack of change in the visual field.

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Sensory Neuron

A sensory neuron that responds to a specific type of stimulus, such as touch, pressure, or temperature.

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Receptive Field

The area on the skin where touching results in the activation of a specific sensory neuron.

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Primary Neuron

A sensory neuron that responds to a stimulus that is more intense or in a specific location, resulting in a stronger electrical signal.

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Secondary Neuron

A sensory neuron that receives input from multiple primary neurons, integrating their signals to enhance or filter the perception of a stimulus.

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Tertiary Neuron

A sensory neuron that receives input from multiple secondary neurons, further integrating and refining the perception of a stimulus.

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Sensory Pathway to Cortex

Most sensory pathways in the body travel through the thalamus, a structure in the diencephalon, before reaching the sensory cortices in the cerebrum.

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Olfactory Pathway

The sensory system of smell (olfactory) is a unique exception and does not project through the thalamus. Its pathway leads directly from the nose to the olfactory cortex.

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Equilibrium Pathway

The sense of equilibrium (balance) is primarily processed in the cerebellum, not the thalamus, although some information may travel through it.

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Sensory Inference

Sensory processing is not just about receiving signals but about interpreting them. The brain makes educated guesses based on incomplete sensory data, actively inferring the nature of the world around us.

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Sensory Illusions

Because sensory perception relies on inferences, the brain can be tricked by cleverly-arranged stimuli that create illusions, causing the brain to misinterpret the situation.

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Perceptual Simplicity

Visual illusions often exploit the brain's tendency to perceive things as the simplest and most likely explanation. For example, we automatically interpret overlapping shapes as forming a 3D box, even though the image itself is just flat lines.

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Brain Mistrusts Coincidences

The brain distrusts coincidences. When shapes align perfectly, it might invent a missing element to explain the alignment, such as the white triangle in the Kanizsa illusion.

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Kanizsa Illusion

The Kanizsa illusion shows how our brain can perceive shapes that don't actually exist in an image. The overlapping wedges, perfectly aligned, trigger the perception of a white triangle in front.

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Study Notes

Introduction to the Senses

  • The senses carry information about the body and surroundings to the central nervous system (CNS).
  • The focus is on the 5 special senses (vision, hearing, equilibrium, taste, and smell), and the 4 somatic senses (touch, temperature, proprioception, and nociception).
  • Most sensory information reaches consciousness.
  • Other sensory data, like blood pressure and internal body temperature, are largely unconscious.

Receptors and Neurons

  • Sensory systems begin with receptors, specialized cells that convert stimuli (like light or sound) into electrical signals.
  • This conversion is called transduction.
  • In some systems, receptor cells are neurons, while in others (e.g., hearing) they are non-neuronal epithelial cells.
  • Receptor cells convert stimulus energy into a graded change in membrane potential (receptor potential).
  • This change may trigger neurotransmitters release and/or action potentials if the receptor is a neuron.
  • Every receptor cell has an adequate stimulus, which is the form of energy it responds to most strongly.
  • However, many receptors can also respond to other forms of energy if powerful enough.

Receptor Classification

  • Chemoreceptors respond to specific molecules or ions (e.g., glucose, oxygen, or H+).
  • Mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical energy (e.g., pressure, vibration, gravity, and sound).
  • Thermoreceptors respond to temperature.
  • Photoreceptors respond to light.

Receptor Sensitivity

  • Every receptor has a threshold, the weakest stimulus that triggers a response.
  • Examples include photoreceptors detecting single photons, and chemoreceptors for smell responding to a single molecule.
  • Perceptual thresholds are different from receptor thresholds; they represent the weakest stimulus causing a conscious perception. For example, it takes about 40 odor molecules to perceive a smell.

Sensory Systems and Neuronal Pathways

  • Sensory systems involve a series of neurons (primary, secondary, tertiary, etc.).
  • Primary sensory neurons synapse onto secondary neurons, and so on.
  • Convergence allows secondary and higher neurons to combine information from many receptors.
  • Sensory neurons use labeled lines to convey information about modality (light, sound, touch, etc.). Activity in different pathways means different modalities.
  • Intensity is represented either by the number of active neurons, population coding, or by the firing rate of neurons, frequency coding. Both can work together in determining intensity.

Signaling Change

  • Receptors and neurons have dynamic activity; their activity depends on stimulus change over time.
  • Receptors can give brief responses to changing stimuli and then stop signaling.
  • Receptors report changes in stimulus, not just steady levels.

Types of Receptors

  • Phasic cells respond briefly to a change and then stop firing.
  • Tonic cells maintain their activity when the stimulus is constant and don't stop signaling (signaling the level/intensity).
  • Phasic-tonic cells respond to change and don't return to zero firing level when the stimulus is constant (indicate both the change and level of stimulus).

Communication Efficiency

  • Phasic signals are more efficient because the world is relatively stable. Reporting changes is more efficient than continuous reporting.
  • Temporal changes refer to changes in a stimulus over time.
  • Spatial changes refer to differences in a stimulus in different regions (e.g., contrast).

Spatial Changes

  • Spatial changes (contrast) are important for identifying edges.
  • Neighboring cells often have similar activity, and spatial changes are important for identifying edges between areas with differing activity.

Lateral Inhibition

  • Lateral inhibition is a method for highlighting differences between regions.
  • Cells inhibit (suppress the response of) neighboring cells or the cells their neighbors excite.

Higher Processing

  • Most sensory pathways pass through the thalamus first, before reaching the cortex.

  • Olfactory pathways are an exception, and project directly to the cortex.

  • Equilibrium information projects to the cerebellum.

Sensory Processing as Inference

  • Sensory processing is an inference process, deducing information about the environment.
  • Sense data isn't complete or unambiguous; the brain has to deduce what is happening.
  • The brain is like detective using the retinal image as a "crime scene."

The Brain Can Be Fooled

  • Because inference involves educated guessing, the brain can be tricked by certain stimuli.
  • This is illustrated by the fact that some 2-dimensional images are interpreted as 3-dimensional objects.

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Introduction to the Senses PSL 300 PDF

Description

Test your knowledge on sensory systems and their functions with this quiz. Explore concepts such as phasic signals, lateral inhibition, and receptor cell roles. Perfect for students studying human biology or neuroscience.

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