Touch Receptors Overview in Psychology

Study Notes

Touch Receptors Overview

Kinesthesis: Refers to the perception of body limb position and movement in space.
Proprioception: Mediated by kinesthetic and vestibular receptors, providing a sense of body position.
Touch/Tactile Sensations: Include pain, pressure, and temperature, arising from specialized sensory receptors.

Receptors and Their Characteristics

Tactile Receptors: Activated by contact with the skin; fundamental for the sense of touch.
Criteria for Categorizing Touch Receptors: Based on type of stimulation, receptor field size, and rate of adaptation (fast vs. slow).
Primary Types of Touch Receptors:
- Mechanoreceptors
- Kinesthetic/Proprioception Receptors
- Thermoreceptors
- Nociceptors

Mechanoreceptors

Function: Respond to mechanical stimuli like pressure, vibration, and movement; each type has unique responsiveness.
Types of Mechanoreceptors:
- Meissner Corpuscles: Fast adaptation, small receptive field, sensitive to light touch.
- Merkel Cell Neurite Complexes: Slow adaptation, small receptive field, crucial for detailed texture perception.
- Pacinian Corpuscles: Fast adaptation, large receptive field, detects deep pressure and vibration.
- Ruffini Endings: Slow adaptation, large receptive field, respond to skin stretch and sustained pressure.

Kinesthetic and Proprioception Receptors

Location: Found in muscles, tendons, and joints; essential for understanding limb position and movement.
Muscle Spindles: Detect changes in muscle length and tension, critical for kinesthetic feedback.

Thermoreceptors

Function: Signal changes in skin temperature, aiding in internal temperature regulation.
Types:
- Warmth Fibers
- Cold Fibers
Activation: Respond when contacting an object at a different temperature than the skin.

Nociceptors

Role: Alert to potential tissue damage, crucial for protective reflexes.
Types of Nociceptors:
- A-delta Fibers: Intermediate-sized, myelinated, transmit quick, sharp pain and temperature signals.
- C Fibers: Narrow-diameter, unmyelinated, responsible for slower, throbbing pain sensations.

Pain Perception

Two Stages of Pain:
- Initial sharp pain transmitted by A-delta fibers.
- Followed by a throbbing sensation relayed by C fibers, due to differences in myelination speed.

Description

Explore the fascinating world of touch receptors including kinesthesis, proprioception, and the various types of tactile sensations. This quiz covers key characteristics and functions of mechanoreceptors and their role in sensory perception. Test your knowledge on the criteria for categorizing touch receptors and their unique properties.