Sensory Pathways - General Organisation of Sensory Systems

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts regarding sensory pathways and systems, helping to reinforce important vocabulary for exam preparation.

Sensory System

Allows us to construct representations of our external and internal environments.

Sensory Receptors

Specialized cells that detect specific physical stimuli and convert them into action potentials.

Transduction

The process by which an environmental stimulus causes an electrical response in the receptor cell.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that detect molecules, examples include olfaction and taste.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that detect physical distortion, such as pressure and position.

Electromagnetic Receptors

Specialized receptors for detecting visible light, infrared radiation, or magnetic fields.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors that detect changes in temperature, either hot or cold.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors that detect severe heat, pressure, and chemicals released by inflamed tissue.

Receptive Field

The specific region of sensory space in which an appropriate stimulus can drive an electrical response in a sensory neuron.

Acuity

The ability to distinguish individual stimuli; resolution and accuracy.

Hierarchical Processing

Levels of consciousness in sensory processing from receptors to the cerebral cortex.

Lateral Inhibition

A mechanism that sharpens the detection of sensory input by suppressing activity of neighboring neurons.

Gustatory Pathway

Pathway that carries taste information from taste cells to the gustatory cortex.

Olfactory Pathway

Pathway through which olfactory information is transmitted directly to the olfactory cortex and amygdala.

Somatosensory Cortex

The area of the brain that processes body sensations; has a somatotopic organization.

Tonotopic Organization

Organization of the auditory cortex where different frequencies are processed in specific areas.

Retinotopic Organization

Organization of the visual cortex where different visual fields are mapped onto specific areas.

Unimodal Association Areas

Secondary areas of the cortex that process a single type of sensory information.

Multimodal Association Areas

Areas that combine analyzed information from multiple sensory systems for richer perception.

Proprioception

The sense of body position and movement, conveyed to the cerebellum.

Reflex Activity

Involuntary responses to stimuli that do not require conscious thought.

Phantom Sensations

Sensations that are felt after amputation, where the brain perceives a limb that is no longer there.

Action Potential (AP)

An electrical signal that is generated in sensory neurons in response to stimuli.

Peripheral Ganglia

Clusters of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system.

Dorsal Root Ganglia

Clusters of sensory neuron cell bodies located along the spinal cord.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain involved in complex functions such as perception and cognition.

Thalamus

A brain structure that serves as a relay station for sensory information.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Electrical Response

The change in membrane potential in a receptor cell when stimulated.

Visceral Sensory

Sensory information that originates from internal organs.

Conscious Processing

The perception and analysis of sensory information that occurs in the cortex.

Taste Cells

Sensory cells in the taste buds that detect tastant molecules.

Microvilli

Small projections on taste cells that help capture tastant molecules.

Cochlea

The auditory portion of the inner ear where sound transduction occurs.

Retina

The layer at the back of the eye that contains photoreceptors for vision.

Receptive Ending

The terminal part of a sensory neuron that interacts with environmental stimuli.

Dendrites

Extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons or sensory receptors.

Ganglion

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

Neuronal Circuit

A network of interconnected neurons that process and transmit information.

Cilia

Hair-like structures on sensory cells that detect environmental stimuli.

Rod and Cone Cells

Photoreceptors in the retina that are responsible for vision under different lighting conditions.

Automatic Movements

Involuntary actions controlled by the basal ganglia and other areas of the CNS.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron that contains the nucleus.

Signal Processing

The way sensory information is filtered and modified as it travels through the nervous system.