Concssious V Unconcisous Response

Question 1

Responding to sensory stimuli

Conscious response

Answer 1

The sensory receptors in the part of the body in contact with a sensory stimulus register sensory information.
These messages are sent along the neural pathways of the peripheral nervous system via the spinal cord to be integrated by the brain.
The brain co-ordinates a motor response, and initiates it by sending motor neural messages out to the peripheral nervous system via the spinal cord.
The skeletal muscles receive the motor message, and respond accordingly

R - registered
I. - integrated
C- co-ordinated
R - response

Question 2

Responding to sensory stimuli-example

Answer 2

Sensory receptors on an individuals hand register the pain of hot water, the sensory neural messages of pain from the hand travel via the spinal cord to be intergraded by the brain. The brain registers the need to move the hand away from the heat source and co-ordinates a response to move the hand. The skeletal muscles of the hand register the motor messages and move the hand.

Question 3

The spinal reflex

Overview

Answer 3

The spinal-cord is responsible for spinal reflexes, which are unconscious, involuntary, and unlearned (given the brain doesn’t initiate the behaviour) reactions, in the form of swift, automatic and finally co-ordinated movement in response to external stimuli.

The spinal reflex occurs along a path known as the spinal-sensory motor circuit

Question 4

Steps involved in the spinal reflex

Answer 4

Step 1
• The sensation of a sensory stimulus is detected by the body sensory receptors, which sends signal via sensory neurons to the spinal-cord

Step 2
• The spinal-cord, via interneurons, immediately realise a signal via motor neurons to initiate an automatic/unconscious motor response in the skeletal muscles to the sensory stimulus

Step 3
• as the motor neurons send messages to tell the body to respond unconsciously, sensory neurons send neural messages to the brain to make it aware of any pain or sensation. The brain conscious awareness is not necessary for the reflex response, but the brain will register the sensations independently and after the reflex response has occurred