Why is sensory integration important?
Survival depends upon sensation & perception with processing along the way.
What is sensory integration?
Awareness of change.
Where does processing of sensory integration occur?
Thalamus
When processing at the Receptor Level what is required?
- The receptor must have SPECIFICITY for the stimulus energy.
- The receptor’s RECEPTIVE FIELD must be stimulated (lips = dense field)
- The stimulus energy must be converted into a graded potential.
What is a graded potential known as?
Transduction
When does adaptation of sensory receptors occur?
When sensory receptors are subjected to a constant, un changing stimulus.
What occurs during adaptation of sensory receptors?
- receptor membranes become less responsive.
- graded potentials decline in frequency, or stop.
What are the 2 types of adaptive graded potentials?
- Phasic
2. Tonic
What is a Phasic receptor signal?
Receptors signaling the BEGINNING or END of a stimulus.
What are examples of Phasic recptors? Are they fast or slow-adapting?
Receptors for pressure, touch, and smell
(i.e. Mechanoreceptors & Exteroceptors)
FAST-ADAPTING
What is a Tonic receptor signal?
Slow-Adapting or Non-Adapting receptors.
What is an example of a Slow-Adapting Tonic receptor?
- Touch receptors (Merkel discs)
- Chemoreceptors
- Proprioceptors
What is an example of a Non-Adapting Tonic receptor?
Pain receptors = Nociceptors (protective)
What occurs during Sensory Integration when Processing at the Circuit Level?
The ascending pathways
- first-order neuron
- second-order neuron- third-order neuron (thalamus)
What occurs during Sensory Integration while Processing at the Perceptual Level?
Cerebral cortex circuits
-sensation is detected in the primary cortex
-perception (conscious interpretation) in the related association cortex
