Somatic Nervous System and Somatosensory Processing

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the somatic nervous system, sensory processing, pain, and touch.

The somatic nervous system includes sensations of __________.

Proprioception, touch and pressure, pain, temperature.

The thalamus serves as a __________ center in the brain.

Relay.

The somatosensory cortex is located at the __________ end of the parietal lobe.

Anterior.

Damage to the somatosensory cortex can result in an inability to identify body parts by __________.

Touch.

The somatosensory cortex contains a __________ map, known as the somatosensory homunculus.

Somatotopic.

Nociceptors are sensitive to __________ and are the least specialized of all receptors.

Pain.

Touch receptor cells can adapt to __________.

Stimuli.

The mechanisms that increase sensitivity to pain involve the release of histamine and other __________.

Chemicals.

The Gate Theory of pain suggests that non-pain input can __________ the gate of pain processing.

Close.

The __________ cortex is involved in secondary processing of pain and reacts to emotional responses to pain.

Cingulate.

Capsaicin, found in chili peppers, affects the __________ channel related to temperature perception.

TRPV1.

Opiate receptors in the body are primarily __________ receptors.

Inhibitory metabotropic.