TEST 3 Flashcards
Organized on a similar hierarchical plan, sensory receptors, neural relays between the receptor and the neocortex, sensory coding and representation, perception
Common features of Sensory Systems
Specialized cells that convert sensory energy into neural activity, each sensory receptor responds to a narrow band of energy
Sensory receptors
Light energy, mechanical energy, air-pressure waves, chemical energy
Forms of energy that sensory receptors of different sensory systems are responsive
Ultraviolet vision, very low and very high frequency hearing, trace odor detection, seeing in dark, color vision
How sensory systems produce an idiosyncratic representation of reality for species and individuals
Specific part of the world to which a receptor cell responds
Receptive field
Each photoreceptor in the eye points in a slightly different direction and so has a unique receptive field, somatosensory receptors respond to stimulation on a very specific part of the skin
Examples of receptive fields
The brain uses information from receptive fields to ______
Identify Information
Contrast Information
Connections of receptors to cortex via intervening neurons
Neural Relays
Depending on the sensory system, three (visual and somatosensory systems) or four intervening neurons, located in the spinal cord, brainstem, and neocortex
Characteristics of Neural Relays
At each level, sensory information can be used to produce different adaptive responses.
Visual info at the level of the brainstem (superior colliculus) can produce eye movement.
Somatosensory (pain) info at the level of the spinal word can produce withdraw reflexes.
Major functional Consequences of having Neural Relays
Subjective interpretation of sensations by the brain
Perception
The context in which sensory impressions occur, emotional state, past experience
Factors that affect our sensory impressions
Light energy —> Strikes photoreceptor —> Chemical reaction —> Change in membrane potential —> Release in neurotransmitter —> Effect on nearby neurons
Initial steps in visual processing (steps from light striking the photoreceptors to the release of a neurotransmitter onto nearby neurons)
Rods and Cones are what?
Types of photoreceptors
More numerous, low levels of brightness, night vision, periphery of the retina, one light absorbing pigment, one kind
Rods
Less numerous, bright light, color vision, seeing fine detail, concentrated in the fovea, one of three light absorbing pigments, three kinds
Cones
Photoreceptors connect to retinal ganglion cells via what number of cell types?
3
Axons of the retinal ganglion cells form the ____ nerve
Optic
Rods have which retinal ganglion cell type?
M Cells
Cones have which retinal ganglion cell type?
P Cells