Chapter 07 Key Terms and Facts

These flashcards encompass key concepts, definitions, and functions related to sensations and perceptions as covered in Chapter 07.

Sensation

The raw registration of stimulus by sensory receptors.

Perception

The brain’s interpretation of sensory inputs, giving them meaning.

Receptor potentials

Small graded electrical changes in sensory receptor membranes triggered by stimuli.

Receptive field

The specific physical area where stimulation activates a sensory neuron.

Adaptation

The process by which sensory receptors decrease their response over time to a constant stimulus.

Lateral inhibition

An edge-enhancing signal refinement where strongly activated neurons suppress their neighbors.

Itch sensation

A distinct form of somatic information primarily transmitted via specialized C-fiber nociceptors.

Polymodal neurons

Sensory neurons that respond to multiple types of stimuli, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical.

Cortical association areas

Brain regions that integrate raw sensory input into meaningful perceptions.

Somatic sensation

Sensations originating from skin, muscles, bones, and joints.

Accommodation for near vision

The process where ciliary muscles contract and zonular fibers relax to focus on near objects.

Presbyopia

Age-related stiffening of the lens that reduces the ability to focus on near objects.

Hyperopia

Farsightedness; light focuses behind the retina, causing difficulty with near vision.

Myopia

Nearsightedness; light focuses in front of the retina, leading to difficulty with distance vision.

Cataract

A condition where the lens becomes cloudy, leading to blurry vision.

Glaucoma

A condition of increased intraocular pressure that leads to optic nerve damage and visual field loss.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells in the retina that detect low light intensity.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision and high acuity.

Optic neural pathways

The pathway through which visual information transmits from the retina to the brain.

Ganglion cells

Cells in the retina that integrate bipolar cell signals and generate action potentials.

Middle ear components

Includes the tympanic membrane and ossicles that amplify and transmit sound.

Hair cells

Sensory receptor cells in the Organ of Corti that convert mechanical movement into neurotransmitter release.

Place coding

The mechanism by which different pitches of sound stimulate different locations on the basilar membrane.

Tensor tympani

A muscle that dampens loud sounds by tensing the tympanic membrane.

Stapedius

A muscle that dampens stapes motion to protect the cochlea from excessive vibration.

Utricle

A structure that detects horizontal linear acceleration and head tilt.

Saccule

A structure that detects vertical linear acceleration and head tilt.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that detect mechanical forces.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that detect chemical molecules.

Baroreceptors

Receptors that detect pressure in blood vessels.

Nociceptors

Receptors that detect intense or painful stimuli.

Proprioceptors

Receptors that detect body position and tension.

Photoreceptors

Receptors that detect light energy.