Somatosensory System

Question 1

Define proprioception.

Answer 1

The ability to sense the position of the body and limbs; our perception of our bodies caused by feedback from the skin, muscles, and joints.

Question 2

Define kinesthesis.

Answer 2

The ability to sense movement of the body and limbs; the tracking of our body as it is in motion.

Question 3

Define cutaneous senses.

Answer 3

The perception of touch and pain from stimulation of the skin.

Question 4

In kinesthesis, information is sent from the proprioceptors: _______ _______ ______ and ________ ________.

Answer 4

Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles

Question 5

Golgi tendon organs are also referred to as _______ ______.

Answer 5

Motor tension

Question 6

Muscle spindles are also referred to as ______ ______ and _______.

Answer 6

Monitor stretch and speed

Question 7

Ian Waterman has no sensory input from his ______________ or _____________.

Answer 7

Proprioceptors or mechanoreceptors

Question 8

Ian Waterman can still feel ___________ and __________.

Answer 8

Pain and temperature.

Question 9

Ian Waterman cannot feel his muscles, joints, or skin, but can still feel pain and temperature. This is a good example of…?

Answer 9

Single dissociation

Question 10

Which mechanoreceptors are closest to the surface of the skin?

Answer 10

Merkel and Meissner corpuscle

Question 11

Which two mechanoreceptors have small response fields and high acuity?

Answer 11

Merkel and Meissner corpuscle

Question 12

Which two mechanoreceptors are slow adapting?

Answer 12

Merkel and Ruffini cylinder

Question 13

Which two mechanoreceptors are rapid adapting?

Answer 13

Pacinian and Meissner corpuscles.

Question 14

Which mechanoreceptors are located deeper in the skin?

Answer 14

Ruffini cylinder and Pacinian corpuscle

Question 15

Which two mechanoreceptors have large receptive fields and low acuity?

Answer 15

Ruffini cylinder and Pacinian corpuscle.

Question 16

What is the two-point threshold?

Answer 16

the minimum separation needed between two points to perceive them as two units.

Question 17

What is grating acuity?

Answer 17

Placing a grooved stimulus ont he skin, then indicating the orientation of the grating.

Question 18

What is the raised pattern identification?

Answer 18

Using letters/simple shapes to determine the smallest size that can be identified.

Question 19

There is a high density of _______ receptors in the fingertips.

Answer 19

Merkel receptors

Question 20

Pacinian corpusclkes are primarily responsible for sensing _________.

Answer 20

vibrations

Question 21

Texture perception depends on these 2 cues:
1.
2.

Answer 21

1. Spatial

2. Temporal

Question 22

Texture perception: Spatial cues are determined by…?

Answer 22

The size, shape, and distribution of surface elements

Question 23

Texture perception: Temporal cues are determined by…?

Answer 23

The rate of vibration as skin is moved across finely textured surfaces.

Question 24

Which 2 mechanoreceptors are involved in duplex theory?

Answer 24

Merkel receptors and Pacinian corpuscles.

Question 25

What are the two major pathways in the spinal cord?

Answer 25

Spinothalamic pathway and medial lemniscal pathway

Question 26

Both spinal cord pathways pass through the…?

Answer 26

Ventral posterolateral nucleus.

Question 27

Where is the ventral posterolateral nucleus located?

Answer 27

In the thalamus

Question 28

What kind of organization is used in the thalamus for touch perception?

Answer 28

Somatotropic

Question 29

What is another word for body maps?

Answer 29

Homonculi

Question 30

What is the Penfield Homonculus?

Answer 30

Cortical representation of the body, a detailed motor and sensory map.

Question 31

Areas with higher acuity have ________ receptive fields on the skin.

Answer 31

smaller

Question 32

On the anterior side of the central sulcus (in the frontal lobe) there is a homonculi map involved with…

Answer 32

Motor control

Question 33

Define neural plasticity

Answer 33

The selective alteration of neural properties over time.

Question 34

Areas responsible for controlling and sensing fingers can become fused. What is this called?

Answer 34

Focal dystonia

Question 35

The fusing of areas (focal dystonia) happens in which cortex?

Answer 35

Somatosensory cortex

Question 36

The active exploration of 3D objects with the hands is called…?

Answer 36

Haptic perception

Question 37

Haptic Perception uses three distinct systems, name them.

Answer 37

1. Sensory
2. Motor
3. Cognitive

Question 38

Research shows that people can identify objects haptically in how many seconds?

Answer 38

1-2 seconds

Question 39

Name the 4 exploratory procedures.

Answer 39

1. Lateral motion
2. Pressure
3. Enclosure
4. Contour following

Question 40

The use of piezo actuators in smartphones adds _________ feedback.

Answer 40

Tactile feedback

Question 41

Adding haptic information to smartphones _______ typing errors.

Answer 41

decreases

Question 42

Adding haptic information to smartphones reduces….?

Answer 42

Cognitive loading on other sensory channels

Question 43

Adding haptic information to smartphones allows more…?

Answer 43

Interface options

Question 44

In the somatosensory cortex, single cell recordings indicate some cells respond to _________ of stimuli and…? (Hint: think of simple and complex cells of vision)

Answer 44

orientations of stimuli and direction of movement

Question 45

A monkey’s somatosensory and parital association cortices show the presence of neurons that respond best to _______ specific objects.

Answer 45

grasping

Question 46

___________ to a task increases the response of neurons in S1.

Answer 46

Attending

Question 47

What is duplex theory?

Answer 47

-perception of texture depends on two cues: spatial and temporal

Question 48

What information does the spinothalamic pathway carry? What size fibers does it have?

Answer 48

• temperature and pain info

- small fibers

Question 49

What information does the medial lemniscal pathway carry? What size fibers does it have?

Answer 49

• proprioceptive and touch information

- large fibers