PSYC 2307 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Postcentral Gyrus, Medial Lemniscus, Periaqueductal Gray
20 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Sensory system function: sensory receptors are the interface between the world outside and the nervous system. Sensory receptors are specialized cells that transduce, or convert sensory energy into neural activity (in some cases replacing the dendritic component of the neuron) Somatosensory: mechanical energy activates mechanoreceptors that generate action potentials. Taste and olfaction: chemical molecules in the air and food activate receptors that produce action potentials. Pain: tissue damage releases chemicals that act like neurotransmitters to stimulate action potentials in ascending pain fibers. Vision: light converted to chemical energy in the photoreceptors, and this is converted into action potentials. Audition: air pressure waves are converted into hydraulic/mechanical energy which activates the cochlear hair cells which produce action potentials. Receptive field: a receptive field located sensory events, and there is a specific part of the world to which a sensory receptor responds (a spatial location). A neuron"s receptive field characteristics becomes more specific at high level in the nervous system.
