Chapter 13 (M. Wolfe) Flashcards
A-delta fiber
An intermediate-sized, myelinated sensory nerve fiber that transmits pain and temperature signals.
Analgesia
Decreasing pain sensation during conscious experience.
Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)
A region of the brain associated with the perceived unpleasantness of a pain sensation.
C fiber
A narrow-diameter, unmyelinated sensory nerve fiber that transmits pain and temperature signals.
C tactile (CT) afferent
A narrow-diameter, unmyelinated sensory nerve fiber that transmits signals from pleasant touch.
Cold fiber
A sensory nerve fiber that fires when skin temperature decreases.
Dermis
The inner of two major layers of skin, consisting of nutritive and connective tissues, within which lie the mechanoreceptors.
Dorsal horn
A region at the rear of the spinal cord that receives inputs from receptors in the skin.
Endogenous opiate
A chemical released by the body that blocks the release or uptake of neurotransmitters necessary to transmit pain sensations to the brain.
Endogenous spatial attention
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.
Epidermis
The outer of two major layers of skin.
Exploratory procedure
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
Frame of reference
The coordinate system used to define locations in space.
Gate control theory
A description of the pain-transmitting system that incorporates modulating signals from the brain.
Haptic perception
Knowledge of the world that is derived from sensory receptors in skin, muscles, tendons, and joints, usually involving active exploration.
Hyperalgesia
An increased or heightened response to a normally painful stimulus.
What are kinesthetic receptors responsible for?
Kinesthetic receptors are responsible for giving us a sense of where our limbs are, and what kinds of movements we are making.
Muscle spindle
A sensory receptor located in a muscle that senses its tension.
Nociceptor
A sensory receptor that responds to painful input, such as extreme heat or pressure.
Somatosensation
Collectively, sensory signals from the skin, muscles, tendons, joints, and internal receptors
Spinothalamic pathway
The route from the spinal cord to the brain that carries most of the information about skin temperature and pain
Two-point touch threshold
The minimum distance at which two stimuli (e.g., two simultaneous touches) are just perceptible as separate
What role do fingerprints play in tactile perception?
They enhance tactile perception by amplifying the vibration frequencies that FA II mechanoreceptors measuring fine surface textures are most attuned to.
How does establishing a frame of reference help in haptic object localization?
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
