AP Psychology: Unit 4 Topic 5

Smell, taste, touch, and pain

gate-control theory

the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain

cutaneous receptors

specialized sensory receptors in the skin that detect and respond to a variety of stimuli, including pressure, warmth, cold, and pain

sensory interaction

the principle that one sense may influence another

olfaction

the sense of smell

umami

one of the five basic tastes, described as a savory or meaty flavor

kinesthesis

our sense of body position and movement of the body

vestibular sense

helps regulate our balance when we move and keeps us upright when we sit or stand