Somatosensation

Question 1

Somatosensation

Answer 1

All sensation of the skin – position, sense, touch, pain, vibration, temperature

Question 2

Thermoception

Answer 2

Sensation of temperature; TrypV1 receptor has a conformational change under heat

Question 3

Mechanoreception

Answer 3

Sensation of pressure, vibration, and touch; usually are very fast

Question 4

Nociception

Answer 4

Sensation of pain

Question 5

Proprioception

Answer 5

Sensation of position and balance; relies on spindle sensors in the muscles

Question 6

Intensity

Answer 6

A measure of the strength of stimulus; indicated by how fast neurons fire. Faster => more intense

Question 7

Non-Adapting timing

Answer 7

Consistent firing of neurons

Question 8

Slow-Adapting timing

Answer 8

A gradual decrease in the firing rate of neurons

Question 9

Fast-Adapting timing

Answer 9

Neurons fire as soon as the stimulus starts and then stop firing. The fire again once the stimulus ends

Question 10

Sensory Adaption

Answer 10

Down-regulation of a sensory receptor in response to a constant stimulus

Question 11

Sensory Amplification

Answer 11

Up-regulation of a sensory receptor

Question 12

Somatosensory Homunculus

Answer 12

A map of the body in the brain

Question 13

Sensory Cortex

Answer 13

A cortex of the parietal lobe where the somatosensory homunculus is located; it contains sensory information from all parts of the body

Question 14

Kinaesthesia

Answer 14

Our sensation of the movement of the body

Question 15

Gate Theory of Pain

Answer 15

Non-painful input closes the gates to painful input, preventing painful sensations from traveling through the nervous system

Question 16

Types of nerve fibers

Answer 16

A-ß: fast, thick
A-Delta: medium, not as thick
C: slow, no myelin