Sensation, Perception & Cogn. chapter 30

Question 1

4 components of the nervous system:

Answer 1

1. Reception of stimulus
2. Perception of stimulus
3. Arousal Mechanisms
4. Responding to the sensation

Question 2

Senses give information about the environment ___ and ___ of our bodies

Answer 2

Inside and outside

Question 3

The process of receiving stimuli from nerve endings in the skin and inside the body

Answer 3

1st component of sensory experience: Reception

Question 4

How does reception of a stimulus work?

Answer 4

A receptor converts a stimulus to a nerve impulse and transmits the impulse along sensory neurons to the CNS

Question 5

Found in skin and hair follicles. Touch, pressure and vibration

Answer 5

Mechanoreceptors

Question 6

Found in several places within the ear; cochlea detects sound waves; vestibular apparatus detects equilibrium and balance, position of the head and acceleration of the body

Answer 6

Hair cells

Question 7

Found in skin and detect variations in temperature

Answer 7

Thermo-receptors

Question 8

Located in the retina and detect visible light

Answer 8

Photoreceptors

Question 9

Found in the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Position of our body in space.

Answer 9

Proprioreceptors

Question 10

Located in the taste buds; olfactory located in the epithelium of the nasal cavity detects smell

Answer 10

Chemoreceptors

Question 11

The ability to interpret the impulses transmitted from the receptors and give meaning to the stimuli

Answer 11

2nd Component of sensory experience: Perception

Question 12

Perceptions occur when the person becomes:

Answer 12

Aware of the stimulus and receives the information

Question 13

The brain discards about ___ fo the stimulus that occurs

Answer 13

99%

Question 14

Perception is affected by:

Answer 14

• location of the receptors and pathways activated
• # of receptors activated
• frequency of action potentials generated
• changes in locations, # and freq.

Question 15

The mechanism in the brainstem that controls alertness and is called the Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Answer 15

Arousal Mechanism

Question 16

__ is needed to perceive, interpret and react to incoming stimuli

Answer 16

RAS

Reticular Activating System

Question 17

Neurons of the RAS system make connections between the ___ ___, ___, ___ and ___ ___ which relays visual, auditory and other stimuli that helps keep us awake, attentive and observant

Answer 17

Spinal cord, cerebellum, thalamus and cerebral cortex

Question 18

RAS is affected by:

Answer 18

• The amount of stimuli it receives
• Loud surroundings can increase RAS making the person more awake, alert and active.
• Darker surroundings, medications, sedation, anesthesia depress the RAS

** sleep is controlled by RAS**

Question 19

The end result of a stimulus being perceived and impulses being carried to appropriate places in the brain.

Answer 19

Responding to sensations

Question 20

Responding to sensations of a stimuli are based on:

Answer 20

1. Intensity- ^ or decrease response
2. Contrast- additional stimuli in a given situation. Going from outside to the garage to inside by a fire.
3. Adaptation- getting used to surrounding.
4. Previous Experiences- pt turning away from you when giving injection. *pain

Question 21

Factors affecting sensory function: Developmental Variations

1. Newborns

Answer 21

1. Less acute vision- staring at things but no crips vision.
2. ^ sound accuity at lower frequency.
3. Can discriminate tastes and prefer sweet over sour
4. Can recognize smell of their own mothers breast milk
5. Touch is keenly present in face, hands and soles of feet

Question 22

Factors affecting sensory function: Developmental Variations

Infants

Answer 22

• need sensory stimulation to grow and develop normally
• tactile (soothing, cuddling, feeding) creates a bond, provides comfort and teaches the infant about external environments
• auditory system is developed by playing music and talking to them

Question 23

Factors affecting sensory function: Developmental Variations

Children & Adolescents

Answer 23

• visual acuity improves
• full depth perception is achieved during the preschool period
• hearing is fully developed
• gait and balance is steady after toddler years
• development is peer driven and social interaction provides a wealth of sensory stimulation

Question 24

Factors affecting sensory function: Developmental Variations

-Adults and Older Adults

Answer 24

Early adulthood: senses are at their peak

Older adults: decreased nerve conduction fibers: slower reflexes and delayed response to stimuli

Question 25

How does culture affect sensory function?

Answer 25

Nature, type and amount of interaction and stimulation that people feel comfortable with. - eye contact - person space - physical touch

Question 26

Affects that medication have on how we perceive things

Answer 26

Medications that cross the blood brain barrier affect neurological and sensory function by damaging or killing brain cells. Aspirin and Lasix- can cause auditory nerves damage if taken too long or pushed too fast. Multiple sclerosis- slow nerve impulse transmissions

Question 27

How can trauma affect sensory perception?

Answer 27

- depends on injury Head injury and neuro patients are keenly aware of stimulus that is going on. Counterintuitive for healing. Need decreased stimulation

Question 28

How does stress affect someone’s sensory perception?

Answer 28

Provides added stimulation and sometimes, it adds too much

Question 29

How does sensory overload affect sensory perception?

Answer 29

Can lead to physical illness, hair loss, weight gain or loss, anorexia, insomnia etc.

Question 30

What type of things impair sensory reception?

Answer 30

``` Neurologic injury Dementia Depression Sleep deprivation Sensory losses CNS depressant medications ```

Question 31

What other types of things can increase the risk of sensory deprivation?

Answer 31

1. Restricted mobility 2. Sensory deficits- vision, hearing 3. Non-stimulating, monotonous environment- orphanages, prisons,homebound, nursing home, isolation 4. Being from different culture

Question 32

Impaired vision and impaired hearing can be caused by ___ or ___

Answer 32

Trauma or disease

Question 33

Results from Xerostomia (excessive dry mouth) which can be caused by medications, decreased saliva production, inadequate fluid intake, poor nutrition, or poor oral hygiene, common colds, infections, smoking etc.

Answer 33

Impaired taste

Question 34

Impaired smell:

Answer 34

- essential for the sense of taste - can be results of trauma, illness, tumor - can cause loss of appetite

Question 35

Impaired tactile perception:

Answer 35

Can be caused by stroke, brain or spinal cord tumor, peripheral nerve damage from DM, Gillian Barre syndrome or chronic alcoholism

Question 36

Impaired kinesthetic sense (muscle sense)

Answer 36

Often caused by inner ear issues | Parkinson’s, stroke and medications can cause impairments