What Is Somatosensation?

People and other vertebrate creatures use specific tactile neurons to identify temperature, weight, and other physical jolts on the skin. These neurons are situated in the spinal segment and are associated with the skin

This experiment was performed to observe the taxis and kinesis of certain organisms. This is important because the organism’s survival and ability to reproduce depends on how they orient to stimuli using senses. We investigated the behavior of pill bugs to determine if they’ll move towards or away from the vinegar through smell. If I place pill bugs in a behavior tray with different chambers, then they’ll move away from the chambers that contains vinegar. A behavior tray with 5 chambers is used and 2 were control while the other 2 has cotton balls with a few drops of vinegar on it. 5 pill bugs are positioned in the center of the chambers and is covered with a transparent cover to observe the organisms for 10 minutes. Results had shown the class

A mechanoreceptor in the papillary layer of the dermis that responds to fine touch is a

Introduction: We perceive stimuli through nerve cells in our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. When a nerve cell is stimulated, it sends an electrical signal to the brain. After the signal is processed by the brain, other signals are sent to our muscles as we react to the stimulus.

My hypothesis of, if two points of a 2cm wide paper clip are pressed on different parts of the body such as the tip of the index finger, the back of the neck, the palm of the hand, the bicep, and the knee, then I will be able to determine that different parts of the body are more sensitive than others by checking if one or two points of the paper clip were felt after being poked, was proven to be true. From the results it is clear to see that different parts of your body happen to be more sensitive than others such as your finger tips and the back of your neck. All of the human subjects were able to feel both tips of the paperclip at the tip of their index finger while only being able to feel a point on the

The two-point discrimination test of the skin is a simple test of the sensory nerve function. Two-point discrimination measures the individual’s capability to distinguish two points of stimuli presented at the same time. The importance of this study is the ability to tell of two points verses than one that pressing on the skin depends on two things: the concentration of the sensory receptors and the connections that the sensory nerve cells make in the brain. An esthesiometer or caliper; compass-type instrument was used to determine limits of two-point discrimination sensitivity in several skin areas on the subject's forearm, thumb and index finger. The

Mechanoreceptors are structures in the body that enable people to experience physical sensations. They feed perceptible data to the brain in order to be processed. There are several forms of mechanoreceptors, intended to sense diverse types of perceptible information, and these constitutions function in different ways. In disorders concerning sensory sensitivity, some people have issues with their mechanoreceptors or the nervous system does not transfer information normally from these structures to the brain (place reference here).

Over time, orangutans have adapted their hands from having sharp claws to having flattened nails. This led to them having really sensitive finger pads. Because their fingers are so sensitive, they can control each finger separately and feel things easily. They use their fingers to build tools and to pick bugs out of each other’s

The main purpose of the research performed by Maurice Kernan, David Cowan, and Charles Zuker, is to determine which specific genes are linked with mechanotransduction. In order to proceed with any experimentation, a model for the research was chosen to be Drosophila since the adults are found to have cuticular mechanosensory organs that allow for tractable genetic and behavioral analysis. The hypothesis formulated was that if Drosophila with X-linked mutations were screened, then the effects and the factors involved with behavioral response to touch and mechanotransduction would be understood more and be able to apply the findings on human mechanosensory receptors; however, with each experimentations, variables that may have altered or also have influenced the results must be isolated to eliminate any error through the experimentation and to reach an accurate conclusion about mechanotransduction on a biophysical and molecular level. Significant findings from their research that were not already known were that since the adult flies showed a reduced growth when they had mutations in their genes and from the results, it can be concluded that this is due to behavioral phenotypes that ranged from reduction of locomotor activity to complete incoordination. Through their experimentation of the behavioral analysis of the mosaic flies, it was observed that there was an indication that the unc (uncoordinated) allele is a focus concerning external sensory bristles. Additionally, from

A Natural History of the senses by Diane Ackerman is a book in which the human senses are studied and explained via many concise subdivisions. Touch is the second part of the book, which offers an interesting perception of what compose touch. As an important aspect to understanding its functions,and by summarizing the chapter, it will provide a global view of what to expect. The feeling bubble is one of the subdivisions of the touch. In this subdivision, the skin is the main subject and is mainly seen as a biological aspect. In order to introduce us to her thoughts, the author compares the skin to a spacesuit. Likewise, she describes how the skin is part of our identity, along with the biological benefits brought to our body. Followed by many different examples she explains why, according to many researchers, the skin is an important organ and how impressive it is. She focuses on the real story of two little boys. In the end, she exposes the risks to which our skin is exposed throughout its life.

Both light touch and deep pressure are fast-adapting senses. The bulb of connective tissue is involved with adaptation. When deformation of these receptors first occurs, there is a burst of electrical activity. If the stimulus is sustained, the bulb then mechanically adjusts to it, and allows the sensory nerve to repolarize. The effect is loss of sensation. As soon as the pattern of deformation changes, the neuron immediately depolarizes again. The overall effect is to increase sensitivity to changes in the pattern of physical contact (touch) with the environment.

     The brain is aware of its surroundings, via input from the spinal cord and cranial nerves. Cranial nerves with sensory functions allow us to smell and see. Nerves with both motor and sensory functions are responsible for everything from tasting and chewing, to breathing and the heating of your heart. Many of the little things we take for granted are also made possible by cranial nerves.

* Sensations: The cutaneous sensations like touch, pressure, vibration, pain, cold, hot, etc, are felt by the skin.

(Attention) Did you know that there are over 5,000,000 touch receptors in our skin and 3,000 of them are in the finger tips. Imagine all the endorphins being released by the slightest touch of another person.