Non-Visual Sensory Systems

Flashcards based on the key concepts and terms from the lecture on Non-Visual Sensory Systems.

Exteroception

The sensory modality that allows us to determine what is in the external environment.

Vestibular sense

The sense responsible for balance and spatial orientation, involving head movements and gravity.

Proprioception

The sense that provides information about body position and movement, primarily unconscious.

Interoception

The sense that helps determine the internal state of the body, related to homeostasis and bodily awareness.

Auditory System

The system that transmits sound to the sensory organ, transduces sound energy into neural signals and processes them.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, which involves receptors in the nasal passage and is related to chemical signals in the environment.

Gustation

The sense of taste, involving receptors on the tongue that respond to five primary tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami.

Anosmia

The inability to smell; often caused by head trauma or neurological issues.

Tonotopic organization

The spatial arrangement of sound frequency processing in the auditory system, where different frequencies are processed in different areas.

Acoustic reflex

The involuntary muscle contractions that occur in response to loud sounds, helping to protect the inner ear.

Baroreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect changes in blood pressure.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to chemical stimuli, such as those involved in taste and smell.