SnP (Touch)

kinesthesis

the perception of the position and movement of our limbs in space

proprioception

perception mediated by kinesthetic and vestibular receptors

somatosensation

a collective term for sensory signals from the body

touch “mechanoreceptors”

specialized structures that respond to mechanical stimulation, typically embedded on the outer layer (epidermis) and underlying layer (dermis) of skin

a beta fibers

very fast sensory fibers that carry info about touch and pressure

kinesthetic receptors

play an important role in sense of where limbs are, what kinds of movements are made

muscle spindle

a sensory receptor located in a muscle that senses its tension

thermoreceptors

sensory receptors that signal information about changes in skin temperature

spinothalamic pathway

carries information about skin temperature and pain (slower)

dorsal column medial lemniscal pathway

carries signals from skin, muscles, tendons, and joints

homunculus

maplike representation of regions of the body in the brain, most famously in S1, that shows the somatotopic representation of the body in proportion to amount of input

nociceptors

sensory receptors that transmit information about noxious stimulation that causes damage or potential damage to skin

a delta fibers (faster)

intermediate sized, myelinated sensory nerve fibers that transmit pain and temperature signals

ex: if caught in car door and it hurts you—> immediately pull hand away

c fibers (slower)

narrow diameter, unmyelinated sensory nerve fibers that transmit pain and temperature signals

analgesia

decreasing pain sensation during conscious experienceby blocking pain pathways in the nervous system.

endogenous opiates

chemicals released in body to block release or uptake of neurotransmitters transmitting pain sensation to brain

gate control theory

description of the system that transmits pain that incorporates modulating signals from the brain

anterior cingulate

a region of the brain associated with perceived unpleasantness of pain sensations

prefrontal cortex

a region of the brain concerned with cognition and executive control

hyperalgesia

increased sensitivity to pain, often following injury.

neuropathic

pain that arises from damage to the nervous system, often resulting in chronic pain conditions.

two point threshold

the minimum distance at which two stimuli are just perceptible as separate

haptic perception

knowledge of the world that is derived from sensory receptors in skin, muscles, tendons, and joints, usually involving active exploration