Ch 13 Touch

Kinesthesia

Awareness of movement and position in parts of the body.

Proprioception

Cognitive awareness of body position and balance.

Tactile receptors

Mechanoreceptors that respond to pressure, vibration, or movement.

Noxious stimulation

Sensations strong enough to be perceived as a threat.

Muscle spindle tension

Responds to stretches that lengthen the muscle.

Sharp pain

Occurs with A delta fibers signaling location.

Throbbing pain

Involves C fibers and intensity of the signal.

C tactile afferents

Receptors for pleasant touches processed in the orbitofrontal cortex.

S1 and S2 location

S1 in the parietal lobe, S2 in the lateral sulci.

Ruffini endings

Detect skin stretch and joint activity.

Endogenous opiates

Regulate pain and emotional responses by reducing neurotransmitter release.

Tactile agnosia

Inability to recognize objects through touch.

Haptic perception

Ability to grasp objects.

Gate control theory

Theory explaining pain modulation and analgesia.

Analgesia

Inability to feel pain; aspirin is an example of an analgesic drug.

Hyperalgesia

Experience of extreme pain response, like touching a burn.

Placebo effect

Alleviates pain by reducing brain activity in specific areas.

Perception for action

Using hands to explore surfaces and objects for action.