Principles of sensory systems Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 steps of conservation of sensory processing?

A
  1. Physical stimulus
  2. Transform the stimulus into nerve impulses via sensory receptors in pns
  3. Evoke a response to the signal in the form of perception of sensation in CNS
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2
Q

What is sensory transduction?

A

Energy is taken from the environment and converted into electrical signals

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3
Q

How is specificity for sensory modalities achieved?

A

Structure and position of the sensory receptor

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4
Q

What are the 5 special senses?

A

Vision
Smell
Taste
Hearing
Balance

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5
Q

Describe proprioception

A

Mechanical receptors attached to skin detect muscular stretch
- Allows you to understand where the body

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6
Q

Which modalities use mechanoreceptors?

A

Hearing
Balance
Touch
Proprioception

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7
Q

Which modalities use Chemoreceptors?

A

Olfaction
Taste

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8
Q

What modality uses a thermoreceptor?

A

Temperature

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9
Q

What modality uses a nociceptor?

A

Pain

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10
Q

What modality uses a photoreceptor?

A

Vision

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11
Q

Describe how sensory information is integrated into the CNS

A

Stimulus ->
Sensory receptors are activated ->
Membrane permeability is altered in sensory cell ->
Receptor potential develops in sensory cell ->
Neurotransmitter is released ->
Ap is generated in the afferent neuron terminal->
Ap propagates to CNS ->
CNS integrates the info

  • Receptor potential can directly cause an ap in the sensory neuron terminal if the sensory cell and afferent nerve are the same
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12
Q

What are the differences between Graded receptor potentials and Action potentials?

A

Gps change in size due to changes in stimulus amplitude but Aps are always the same size
Aps have a threshold for activation

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13
Q

Describe how olfactory receptors cause direct neuronal activation

A

Ion influx causes membrane depolarisation
- Graded potential develops in a cilium
- Receptor potentials large enough cause depolarisation in the cell soma, triggering ap that travels to the olfactory bulb

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14
Q

What category of neuron would olfactory receptor fall into?

A

Bipolar neuron

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15
Q

What occurs in the dendrite of a the afferent neuron after a neurotransmitter binds to a postsynaptic receptor?

A

An EPSP is generated
- If the EPSP is large enough, an ap will be generated

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16
Q

What are the 4 types of information sensory receptors can convey?

A

Modality
Location
Intensity
Timing

17
Q

What is the labelled line code?

A

The receptor is selective for one type of stimulus energy
- Axons of afferent neuron/receptor acts as a modality specific line of communication
- Axons from neurons make connections with specific areas in the CNS

18
Q

Describe the receptive field of the somatic system

A

Region of skin innervated by the terminal of the receptor neuron

19
Q

Describe the receptive field in the visual system

A

Region of visual field projected onto a receptor

20
Q

Describe the relationship between stimulus size and receptive field

A

Proportional:
Large stimulus will activate a large receptive field, vice versa

21
Q

Define stimulus intensity

A

Total amount of stimulus energy delivered to the receptor

22
Q

What is the lowest stimulus strength that can be detected know as?

A

The sensory threshold

23
Q

What is intensity determined by?

A

Determined by the response amplitude of the receptor and the firing frequency of afferent neurons

24
Q

What is onset timing determined by?

A

When a stimulus energy is received by the receptor and causes it to fire

25
Q

What is the stimulus duration determined by?

A

Adaptation rates of receptors

26
Q

Describe adaptation

A

In response to a continuous stimuli, the firing rate of action potentials decrease

27
Q

What is a tonic receptor?

A

A slowly adapting receptor
- Responds to a prolonged stimulation

28
Q

What is a phasic receptor?

A

A rapidly adapting receptor
- Responds at the beginning and the end of a stimulus