Chapter 13 (M. Wolfe)

Question 1

A-delta fiber

Answer 1

An intermediate-sized, myelinated sensory nerve fiber that transmits pain and temperature signals.

Question 2

Analgesia

Answer 2

Decreasing pain sensation during conscious experience.

Question 3

Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)

Answer 3

A region of the brain associated with the perceived unpleasantness of a pain sensation.

Question 4

C fiber

Answer 4

A narrow-diameter, unmyelinated sensory nerve fiber that transmits pain and temperature signals.

Question 5

C tactile (CT) afferent

Answer 5

A narrow-diameter, unmyelinated sensory nerve fiber that transmits signals from pleasant touch.

Question 6

Cold fiber

Answer 6

A sensory nerve fiber that fires when skin temperature decreases.

Question 7

Dermis

Answer 7

The inner of two major layers of skin, consisting of nutritive and connective tissues, within which lie the mechanoreceptors.

Question 8

Dorsal horn

Answer 8

A region at the rear of the spinal cord that receives inputs from receptors in the skin.

Question 9

Endogenous opiate

Answer 9

A chemical released by the body that blocks the release or uptake of neurotransmitters necessary to transmit pain sensations to the brain.

Question 10

Endogenous spatial attention

Answer 10

A form of top-down (knowledge-driven) control of spatial attention in which attention is voluntarily directed toward the site where the observer anticipates a stimulus will occur.

Question 11

Epidermis

Answer 11

The outer of two major layers of skin.

Question 12

Exploratory procedure

Answer 12

A stereotyped hand movement pattern used to touch objects in order to perceive their properties; each procedure is best for determining one (or more) object properties

Question 13

Frame of reference

Answer 13

The coordinate system used to define locations in space.

Question 14

Gate control theory

Answer 14

A description of the pain-transmitting system that incorporates modulating signals from the brain.

Question 15

Haptic perception

Answer 15

Knowledge of the world that is derived from sensory receptors in skin, muscles, tendons, and joints, usually involving active exploration.

Question 16

Hyperalgesia

Answer 16

An increased or heightened response to a normally painful stimulus.

Question 17

What are kinesthetic receptors responsible for?

Answer 17

Kinesthetic receptors are responsible for giving us a sense of where our limbs are, and what kinds of movements we are making.

Question 18

Muscle spindle

Answer 18

A sensory receptor located in a muscle that senses its tension.

Question 19

Nociceptor

Answer 19

A sensory receptor that responds to painful input, such as extreme heat or pressure.

Question 20

Somatosensation

Answer 20

Collectively, sensory signals from the skin, muscles, tendons, joints, and internal receptors

Question 21

Spinothalamic pathway

Answer 21

The route from the spinal cord to the brain that carries most of the information about skin temperature and pain

Question 22

Two-point touch threshold

Answer 22

The minimum distance at which two stimuli (e.g., two simultaneous touches) are just perceptible as separate

Question 23

What role do fingerprints play in tactile perception?

Answer 23

They enhance tactile perception by amplifying the vibration frequencies that FA II mechanoreceptors measuring fine surface textures are most attuned to.

Question 24

How does establishing a frame of reference help in haptic object localization?

Answer 24

Establishing a frame of reference helps in haptic object localization since it defines locations in space. Based on these locations, it is then possible to use haptic perception to perceive the objects