Sense of Touch Posisiotn and Balance.

Touch (Tactile Sensing)

The ability of humans to feel when they touch or are touched, providing information about pressure, temperature, and pain.

Proprioception

The sense that allows humans to know their body position and whether they are moving or still.

Balance

The ability to detect changes in speed, direction of movement, motion, and acceleration.

Skin

The largest organ of the body that acts as a massive sensory system for touch.

Robots and Touch

Robots can perform programmed tasks but cannot truly feel touch like humans.

Robot Skin

Developed by scientists to sense pressure and mimic human tactile sensing.

Importance of Touch

Essential for safety, interaction, and understanding the environment.

Sensory Receptors

Structures that detect stimuli and convert them into signals sent to the brain.

Sensory Transduction

The process where a stimulus is converted into an electrochemical signal.

Graded Potential

A small, local electrical change in a sensory neuron that can trigger an action potential if strong enough.

Action Potential

A full electrical impulse that travels along a neuron to the central nervous system.

Transmembrane Protein Receptors

Receptors located in the cell membrane that are activated by chemical molecules.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that respond to physical changes, such as pressure, stretch, vibration, and temperature.

Exteroceptors

Receptors that detect stimuli from the external environment.

Interoceptors

Receptors that detect stimuli from internal organs and tissues.

Proprioceptors

Receptors that detect body position and movement located in muscles, tendons, and joint capsules.

Sensory Modalities

Specific types of sensory information that include touch, balance, and position awareness.

Chronic Pain

Pain that persists over time and is influenced by neurological, psychological, and behavioral factors.

Gate-Control Theory of Pain

A theory explaining how pain signals are modulated by the nervous system before reaching consciousness.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors that detect potentially damaging stimuli.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors that detect changes in temperature, consisting of heat and cold receptors.

Mechanoreceptors of the Skin

Specialized receptors like Merkel cells and Meissner's corpuscles that detect touch and vibration.

Vestibular Sense

The sense that helps maintain balance and spatial awareness located in the inner ear.

Kinesthesis

The awareness of body movement and position, often referred to as proprioception.

Phantom Limb Pain

Pain experienced in a limb that has been amputated, demonstrating pain's neurological basis.

Neuromatrix Theory of Pain

The theory that pain is generated by the brain and is not solely based on tissue or physical injury.

Somatosensation

The general sense that encompasses touch and body position, involving extensive receptors throughout the body.

Electrical Signals in Sensory Neurons

The process by which graded and action potentials transmit sensory information to the CNS.

Vestibular Hyposensitivity

A condition where individuals show signs of low registration to vestibular input, leading to risk-seeking behaviors.

Vestibular Hypersensitivity

A condition where individuals are sensitive to vestibular input and actively avoid movement.

Pain Behavior

Observable actions related to experiencing pain, influenced by various psychological factors.

Free Nerve Endings

Unencapsulated sensory receptors that primarily detect pain and temperature.

Encapsulated Nerve Endings

Sensory receptors wrapped in connective tissue that enhance sensitivity and detect specific stimuli.

Joint Receptors

Receptors that detect movement and stretch in joint capsules, helping with body positioning.

Pain vs. Suffering

Pain is the physical experience, while suffering is the emotional response associated with pain.

Motor Response

The action taken by an individual in reaction to pain or sensory perception.

Electrochemical Signal

A signal formed from sensory transduction that is transmitted to the CNS.

Accommodation

The ability of the eye to focus on objects at various distances; relevant in discussions of sensory processing.

Hypersensitivity

Heightened sensitivity to stimuli that can provoke discomfort or pain.

Desensitization

Reducing sensitivity through repeated exposure or gradual introduction to stimuli.

Sensation Seeking

The behavior exhibited by individuals actively looking for sensory stimulation, especially in those with vestibular hyposensitivity.

Sensory Processing Disorder

A condition where the brain has difficulty interpreting sensory stimuli.

Auditory Processing

How the brain interprets sound stimuli, relevant in comprehending sensory modalities inclusive of hearing.

Visual Processing

The interpretation of visual stimuli by the brain, integral to balance and spatial orientation.

Cross-Modal Sensory Interaction

How different sensory modalities interact and influence one another.

Neurological Basis of Pain

The mechanisms within the nervous system that govern the experience and perception of pain.

Cognitive Evaluation of Pain

The brain's assessment of pain intensity and quality based on context and prior experience.

Afferent Pathways

Nerve pathways that carry sensory signals to the central nervous system.

Efferent Pathways

Nerve pathways that transmit commands from the CNS to effectors such as muscles.

Thalamus in Sensory Processing

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information before it reaches the cortex.

Somatosensory Cortex

The region of the brain responsible for processing touch and bodily sensations.

Reticular Formation

A pathway involved in controlling arousal and alertness, related to sensory awareness.

Central Processing of Pain

How the brain processes and interprets pain signals received from nociceptors.

Vestibular Nerve

Transmits balance signals from the vestibular system to the brain.

Optokinetic Reflex

A reflex that stabilizes vision during head movement by coordinating eye and head motion.

Spatial Orientation

The ability to identify one's position in space, integrated through the vestibular sense.

Acoustic Reflex

An involuntary muscle reaction to loud sounds, protecting the inner ear.

Auditory Tubes

Pathways connecting the throat and the middle ear, contributing to balance and auditory processing.

Depth Perception

The visual ability to judge distances, related to proprioception and coordination.

Postural Control

The ability to maintain the body posture in response to sensory input regarding balance.

Skin Receptors

Specialized cells in the skin that respond to various sensations like pressure, temperature, and pain.

Acquisition of Sensory Skills

The process by which individuals learn to interpret and respond to sensory information.

Integration of Sensory Information

Combining input from various senses to form a cohesive understanding of the environment.

Multimodal Sensory Integration

The process by which the brain synthesizes information from different sensory modalities.

Vestibulo-ocular Reflex

A reflex that stabilizes vision by coordinating eye movement in response to head movements.

Sensory Memory

The brief retention of sensory information, playing a role in perception and reaction.

Pain Modulation

The alternation of pain perception through psychological and physiological mechanisms.

Sensory Adaptation

The process in which sensitivity to a constant stimulus decreases over time.

Pain Threshold

The level of stimulus intensity at which a person perceives pain.

Homeostasis and Sensory Input

The regulatory mechanism of the body that relies on sensory input to maintain stable internal conditions.

Thermal Sensation

Sensation related to temperature detected by thermoreceptors.

Vestibular System and Motion Sickness

The relationship between vestibular function and the experience of nausea during motion.

Social Communication and Sensory Processing

The interplay between sensory processing abilities and social interaction skills.

Post-injury Sensory Rehabilitation

Therapeutic processes aimed at restoring normal sensory functioning after injury.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain Management

A psychological approach to altering pain perception through cognitive re-evaluation.

Adaptive Sensory Strategies

Techniques developed to cope with sensory sensitivities or processing difficulties.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Intervention used to help individuals process sensory information more effectively.

Neuroplasticity and Pain Perception

The ability of the nervous system to change its structure and function in response to sensory experiences.

Bilateral Sensory Processing

The engagement of both hemispheres of the brain in processing sensory information.

Instinct and Reflex Actions

Innate responses to sensory stimuli that do not require processing by higher brain functions.

Social Implications of Sensory Processing Disorders

The effects of sensory processing difficulties on social interactions and relationships.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

A therapeutic approach that uses proprioceptive feedback for improving movement and coordination.

Somatic Sensation and Emotional Feedback

The interplay between bodily sensations and emotional responses.