ch 3a- sensory contribution Flashcards
sensory systems important for control of movement
visual, vestibular, somatosensory
describe how sensory feedback works (loop)
loop:
Integration (brain/CNS= decision making)—-> signal to effectors (e.g muscles) to produce an action –> movement is sensed by sensory receptors (e.g. eyes or muscle spindles) –> feedback is sent back to brain/CNS for integration and decision making again
Visual sensory feedback
- self and object motion
-position of limbs relative to body
-position of limbs/body in relation to environment
Vestibular sensory feedback
-self motion
-head position
Somatosensory feedback (proprioception)
-muscle length (muscle spindles)
-muscle force (golgi tendon organs)
-joint angles (joint receptors)
-pressure under feet and contact with the environment
Mediating factors that may affect visual feedback
-ambient light
-contrast
-peripheral vs. central visual field
Most neurons have 4 functional components that generate signals to transmit information
- Local input (receptive) component
- Trigger (summing) component
- Long range conducting (signalling) component
- Output (sensory) component
affarent neurons
carry info towards CNS and brain. associated w sensory neurons
efferent neurons
carry info away from the CNS and brain. associated with motor neurons
interneurons
connect other neurons. abundant in the brain
two factors related to the signal transmitted by a neuron
- number of action potentials
- time intervals between action potentials
what determines intensity of sensation or speed of movement?
frequency of individual action potentials (firing rate)
What information does the nervous system extract from its receptors?
-modality
-intensity
-duration
-location
MODALITY
what is the stimulus?
(sight, touch, taste, or smell)
–> each of theses modalities has sub modalities
Somatosensory system receptors that detect different sub-modalities
-cutaneous mechanoreceptors (touch e.g. Pacinian corpuscle= vibration and pressuren)
-thermal receptors (temperature)
-nocireceptors (pain)
-muscle mechanoreceptors (e.g. muscle length sensed by muscle spindles)
INTENSITY
how much we feel stimulus depends on the strength of the stimulus
intensity is encoded by
- frequency of actions: frequency coding
- number of sensory receptors activated: called population coding
strong stimulus results in
activation of more receptor endings OR activation of more sensory neurons
threshold
intensity at which stimulus can be perceived
sensory threshold
stimulus intensity is detected on 50% of trials
DURATION
how long you perceive a stimulus depends on how long the stimulus is present and intensity of the stimulus
as a stimulus persists, you
adapt/become desensitized
LOCATION
where is the stimulus? (depends on the receptive field of the sensory neuron)
receptive field of sensory neuron
the spatial area in the sense organ where stimuli excite or inhibit the neuron
sensory receptive fields provide info about
spatial location of a stimulus and spatial resolution of the sensory system
greater spatial resolution means…
where is an example of an area on your body w/ a lower threshold (greater spacial resolution)
you can discriminate smaller stimuli
ex. hands
How to test for touch sensations
the two-point discrimination test
the two point disrcimination test determines
the location at which two closely spaces stimuli can be perceived as separate