Lecture 23: The PNS- Somatic Sensation

Question 1

Four parts of somatic sensation

Answer 1

Touch, temperature, nociception (pain + itch), proprioception

Question 2

What is the area of somatosensory cortex devoted to a specific body area associated with?

Answer 2

Sensitivity

Question 3

Plasticity

Answer 3

Amount of area for a specific body part can change in size

Question 4

Places with thermoreceptors with free nerve endings

Answer 4

Skin, organs, muscles, CNS

Question 5

Nociceptors

Answer 5

Respond to strong noxious stimuli

chemicals, mechanical damage, thermal extremes

Question 6

Nociceptors are localized throughout the body except for what nervous system?

Answer 6

CNS

Question 7

What is nociception felt as?

Answer 7

Pain or itch

Question 8

Fast Pain

Answer 8

Pricking, sharp pain

Small myelinated axons (make it fast)

Question 9

Slow Pain

Answer 9

Dull, achy

Small unmeyelinated axons (make it slow)

Question 10

Itch

Answer 10

Linked to pain in that scratching and itch can reduce the perception of pain

Associated with rashes, MS, and diabetes for example

Question 11

When is nociception increased?

Answer 11

Emotional experience

Question 12

When is nociception inhibited?

Answer 12

Higher order functioning

Question 13

Gate Control Theory

Answer 13

Stimulating mechanoreceptor fibers (rubbing the skin) inhibits other pathways, decreasing the sensation of pain

Question 14

Kinesthesia

Answer 14

Body movement

Question 15

What do different neurons encode?

Answer 15

Limb/ joint velocity, load, muscle length

Question 16

When can proprioception and kinesthetic loss happen?

Answer 16

During adolescence, body weight fluctuations, when tired`