Touch

Question 1

What is the dermis and the epidermis?

Answer 1

Epidermis - outer layers of skin, including a layer of dead skin
Dermis - layer of skin below epidermis

Question 2

What are the receptors in the skin called?

Answer 2

Cutaneous receptors sensitive to touch, temperature and pain

Question 3

Which receptors respond to:

1. Touch
2. Temperature
3. Pain

Answer 3

1. Mechanoreceptors
2. Thermoreceptors
3. Nociceptors

Question 4

What is a rate code?

Answer 4

Firing rate of a neurone gives information about a stimulus

Question 5

What is proprioception and kinesthesis?

Answer 5

Proprioception - perception of the position of limbs in space
Kinesthesis - perception of body movements

Question 6

What is the somatosensory system?

Answer 6

The sensory system that includes the cutaneous senses as well as proprioception

Question 7

What is haptic perception?

Answer 7

Using touch perception and proprioception of hand movements to explore objects

Question 8

What is a 2 point threshold?

Answer 8

The smallest separation between teo points in the skin which is perceived as two points

Question 9

What is the function of the spinothalamic pathway and the dorsal column-medial lemniscal (DCML) pathway?

Answer 9

Spinothalamic pathway - information about skin temperature and pain to the brain
DCML pathway - signals from skin, muscles and joints

Question 10

Where does somatosensory information travel in the brain?

Answer 10

Relayed through the thalamus into the primary somatosensory cortex