Visual Processing
The back of the eye, this structure contains photoreceptors
Retina
The sensory area dedicated to processing auditory information
Auditory Cortex
The lobe of the brain where somatosensory (i.e., touch) information is processed
Parietal Lobe
Location of savory taste receptors on our tongue
All over the tongue
This is the dominant sense for humans
Vision
photoreceptors in the retina that are sensitive to low light and are useful for night vision. Be careful thought, because these photoreceptors have low acuity and can't tell colors apart!
Rods
Another name for the tympanic membrane, this tight skin light membrane responds to sound-wave vibrations by moving with changes in pressure
Ear Drum
A type of sensory receptor in the skin, this senses temperature information by converting kinetic energy into action potentials that signal sensations of temperature
Thermoreceptor
Location of sweet taste receptors on our tongue
All over the tongue
This is the process by which sensory organs receive stimuli from the environment
Sensation
Cones
This snail shell structure contains the basilar membrane & auditory cilia. Vibrations transferred to this structure move the fluid inside to help the auditory cilia transduce sound waves & vibrations into electrical pulses
Cochlea
The real estate of the somatosensory cortex is divvied up based on how much information the sensory organ takes in, not its actual size!
Cortical Magnification
Location of sweet taste receptors on our tongue
All over the tongue
This is the neural processing of electrical signals to form internal mental representations inside your brain.
Also known as the interpretation phase of information processing
The pathway of visual information processing that starts in the occipital lobe & goes to the temporal lobe. This pathway will tell you that the large fuzzy creature in front of you is actually a mountain lion
What System
The form of organization of the auditory cortex, here nearby frequencies are processed near each other in the brain
Tonotopic Organization
A type of sensory receptor in the skin, this is a bare nerve ending that senses pain, signals potential harm, and causes a withdrawal reflex.
Nociceptor
The only sensory information to not take a pit stop at the thalamus
Olfactory (smell)
This is the way through which sensory stimuli from the environment are transformed into electrical energy that neurons can read & send
Transduction
The pathway of visual information processing that starts in the occipital lobe & goes to the parietal lobe. This pathway will tell you that the large fuzzy creature in front of you is really close....you should probably run now
Where System
This effect happens when we misinterpret audio information in favor of the available visual information, leading us to hear "Fa" when "Ba" was said
McGurk Effect
The sensory system responsible for being aware of body positions & location of our limbs relative to our central body.
Impairments to this sensory system can result in difficulties doing fine motor tasks, like touching our finger to our nose without looking
Proprioception
Part of the brain responsible for processing smell information, this structure is located in the anterior temporal lobe
Primary Olfactory Cortex
This is the dominant sense for animals like bears
Olfaction (smell)