Lecture 7 – Hut 1,2
Chapter 8 (266-269, fi gure 8.2, 278-279, fi gure 8,9)
Chapter 12 (432-436 fi g.12.19, 12.20, 12.21, 12.22, 12.23)
Chapter 9 (305-309, fi gure 9.12, 9.14)
Sensory systems link an organism to its environment. Without these systems, it is impossible to form
adaptive behaviour. So sensory systems can tell us something about behaviour.
Classically there are 5 senses:
- Taste – gustatory system
- Smell – olfactory system
- Sight – photosensory system (image- and non-image forming)
- Touch – somato-sensory system (tactile, temperature, pain, muscle length, muscle
tension)
- Hearing – auditive system (vestibular system —> balance & movement)
Chemical senses
The basis for taste sensation are ion channels. Molecule receptors are other structures present in
taste sensation.
The basis for olfactory sensation are specialised receptor molecules. For different smells, there are
different receptor molecules —> very big family of receptor molecules. The neurons from the
olfactory bulb are just underneath the frontal cortex, only separated by a small plate. The neurons
even project through this plate into the olfactory bulb.
Somatosensory system
The somatosensory system is a part of the sensory nervous system. The somatosensory system is a
complex system that responds to changes at the surface or inside the body.
Proprioception is the sense of self-movement and body position. This is measured by:
- Golgi tendon organ (in tendon and measures muscle tension)
- Muscle spindel (in muscle and measures muscle length)
Mechano reception (touch)
Temperature reception
Painreception = nociception
Somatotopical sensory map
The somatotropical sensory map and the homunculus were constructed by Dr. Wilder Penfield.
Neuronal plasticity
Chapter 8 (266-269, fi gure 8.2, 278-279, fi gure 8,9)
Chapter 12 (432-436 fi g.12.19, 12.20, 12.21, 12.22, 12.23)
Chapter 9 (305-309, fi gure 9.12, 9.14)
Sensory systems link an organism to its environment. Without these systems, it is impossible to form
adaptive behaviour. So sensory systems can tell us something about behaviour.
Classically there are 5 senses:
- Taste – gustatory system
- Smell – olfactory system
- Sight – photosensory system (image- and non-image forming)
- Touch – somato-sensory system (tactile, temperature, pain, muscle length, muscle
tension)
- Hearing – auditive system (vestibular system —> balance & movement)
Chemical senses
The basis for taste sensation are ion channels. Molecule receptors are other structures present in
taste sensation.
The basis for olfactory sensation are specialised receptor molecules. For different smells, there are
different receptor molecules —> very big family of receptor molecules. The neurons from the
olfactory bulb are just underneath the frontal cortex, only separated by a small plate. The neurons
even project through this plate into the olfactory bulb.
Somatosensory system
The somatosensory system is a part of the sensory nervous system. The somatosensory system is a
complex system that responds to changes at the surface or inside the body.
Proprioception is the sense of self-movement and body position. This is measured by:
- Golgi tendon organ (in tendon and measures muscle tension)
- Muscle spindel (in muscle and measures muscle length)
Mechano reception (touch)
Temperature reception
Painreception = nociception
Somatotopical sensory map
The somatotropical sensory map and the homunculus were constructed by Dr. Wilder Penfield.
Neuronal plasticity
