Lecture on Sensory Receptors and Transduction

These flashcards cover key concepts about sensory receptors, their functions, and the processes involved in sensory transduction and pain perception.

What are simple receptors?

Simple receptors are free nerve endings that consist solely of dendrite nerve endings.

How do complex receptors differ from simple receptors?

Complex receptors have connective tissue wrapped around them and can sense more diverse types of stimuli.

What triggers an action potential in sensory neurons?

A greater potential triggered by stimuli such as touch, deformation, or binding of chemicals to receptors.

What is sensory transduction?

The process of converting physical stimuli into electrical signals in sensory neurons.

Define 'threshold' in sensory processing.

The minimum level of stimulus required to cause a receptor to respond.

What is an 'adequate stimulus'?

The form of energy to which a receptor is most responsive.

What is 'receptive field'?

The physical area where a stimulus can activate a sensory neuron.

What is the difference between tonic and phasic receptors?

Tonic receptors adapt slowly and continue to convey signals during a stimulus, while phasic receptors adapt quickly and stop firing after a constant stimulus.

What are nociceptors responsible for?

Nociceptors detect noxious stimuli that can cause pain or tissue damage.

What are the four properties of a stimulus that the brain uses to differentiate between them?

Modality, location, intensity, and duration.

How does the brain determine the location of a stimulus?

The brain utilizes the activation of specific receptive fields and the concept of lateral inhibition to localize a stimulus.

What is referred pain?

Referred pain is the pain perceived in an area distant from the source of the pain, often due to shared neural pathways.

What type of receptors detect temperature changes?

Temperature receptors are free nerve endings that respond to cold and warm stimuli.

How does the body process pain?

The body's response to pain involves shock, reflex actions, and the activation of nociceptors, leading to protective behavioral responses.

What is the role of the thalamus in sensory processing?

The thalamus acts as an integrating center for sensory information before it reaches the appropriate area of the cortex.