Sensory Systems and Transduction Mechanisms

Receptor cells

Cells that detect environmental stimuli.

Labeled lines

Specific pathways for sensory information transmission.

Sensory transduction

Conversion of stimuli into neural signals.

Touch receptor cells

Detect pressure, temperature, and pain.

Encoding of spatial information

Mapping sensory input to specific body locations.

Receptive fields

Area where a stimulus influences a neuron.

Sensory adaptation

Decreased sensitivity to constant stimuli over time.

Central modulation

Brain's influence on sensory information processing.

Sensory homunculus

Map of body representation in the cortex.

Synesthesia

Cross-wiring of sensory modalities causing mixed perceptions.

Plasticity of sensory cortices

Ability of sensory areas to adapt and reorganize.

Decibels

Unit measuring sound intensity or loudness.

Hertz

Unit measuring frequency of sound waves.

Transduction

Process of converting one form of energy to another.

Eardrum

Membrane that vibrates in response to sound.

Ossicles

Three small bones in the middle ear.

Middle ear

Air-filled cavity containing ossicles.

Oval window

Membrane leading from middle ear to inner ear.

Inner ear

Contains cochlea and structures for hearing.

Cochlea

Spiral-shaped organ for hearing in the inner ear.

Basilar membrane

Membrane in cochlea that vibrates with sound.

Inner hair cells

Sensory cells in cochlea that transduce sound.

Tectorial membrane

Membrane that interacts with hair cells in cochlea.

Stereocilia

Hair-like projections on inner hair cells.

Inferior colliculi

Midbrain nuclei involved in auditory processing.

Medial geniculate nuclei

Thalamic relay for auditory information.

Tonotopic organization

Spatial arrangement of sound frequency processing.

Retina

Layer of photoreceptors at the back of the eye.

Lens

Transparent structure focusing light onto the retina.

Photoreceptors

Cells that convert light into neural signals.

Rods

Photoreceptors for low-light vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors for color and detail vision.

Bipolar cells

Intermediate cells connecting photoreceptors to ganglion cells.

Ganglion cells

Neurons that transmit visual information to the brain.

Optic nerve

Bundle of axons transmitting visual information.

Scotopic system

Vision under low light conditions.

Photopic system

Vision under well-lit conditions.

Photoreceptor adaptation

Adjustment of photoreceptors to varying light levels.

Visual acuity

Clarity or sharpness of vision.

Fovea

Central region of retina for sharp vision.

Optic disc

Blind spot where optic nerve exits the eye.

Occipital cortex

Brain region processing visual information.

Optic chiasm

Point where optic nerves cross.

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Thalamic relay center for visual information.

Visual pathways

Routes through which visual information travels.

Visual field

Entire area visible to the eyes.

Topographic projection

Mapping of visual input onto brain areas.

Blindsight

Ability to respond to visual stimuli without conscious sight.