Somatic Sensations
Somatic Sensations - Related Videos
11:32
Perspectives on Sensation and Perception
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2023
Source: Laboratory of Jonathan Flombaum—Johns Hopkins University The study of sensation—how signals are transduced from sensory organs, like the eyes—and perception—how the brain interprets these messages—has a rich history dating back to the 19th century, when great strides were made in understanding the properties of light and how they relate to the visual system. Importantly, such sensory and perceptual processes determine what we see, feel, taste, and hear in our surroundings. However, many...
07:54
Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe)
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Cited by 1 •
2015
The Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe) is a valid and reliable measure of haptic performance, which has been used successfully to identify impaired haptic touch in individuals with stroke. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design, fabrication and administration of the HASTe.
08:39
Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse
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Cited by 27 •
2010
In this protocol we describe a method of operant learning using sensory stimuli as a reinforcer in the mouse. It requires no prior training or food restriction, and it allows the study of motivated behavior without the use of a pharmacological or natural reinforcer such as food.
01:21
Sensation
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2024
Sensory receptors are specialized neurons that respond to specific types of external stimuli, initiating the process known as sensation. This occurs when sensory input, such as light entering the eye, is detected by these receptors, causing chemical changes in the cells of the retina. These cells then convert the sensory stimulus into action potentials that are transmitted to the central nervous system, a process termed transduction. Absolute thresholds can quantify the sensitivity of sensory...
07:06
Tissue Regeneration with Somatic Stem Cells
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2023
Somatic or adult stem cells, like embryonic stem cells, are capable of self-renewal but demonstrate a restricted differentiation potential. Nonetheless, these cells are crucial to homeostatic processes and play an important role in tissue repair. By studying and manipulating this cell population, scientist may be able to develop new regenerative therapies for injuries and diseases. This video first defines somatic stem cells, and then explores the role these cells play in tissue regeneration.
FAQs
Receptor location helps determine which bodily condition is monitored. Skin receptors contribute information about touch, pressure, and temperature, while receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints provide information used for proprioception. Because these receptors respond to mechanical, thermal, or chemical stimuli, their signals allow the nervous system to distinguish external contact from internal information about limb position and movement.
Following transduction, electrical signals travel through sensory neurons to the spinal cord and then to the brain. The somatosensory system interprets this incoming activity to produce conscious perceptions and support appropriate responses. This pathway links a physical stimulus with awareness of the body, while also contributing to reflexes and protective reactions associated with potentially harmful conditions.
Proprioception supplies information about limb position and movement, allowing the brain to monitor the body's configuration during activity. This internal sensory input complements signals from the skin and helps support motor coordination. Studying proprioception therefore connects somatic sensation with how the nervous system maintains body awareness and organizes movement rather than treating sensation as passive perception alone.
Researchers examine somatic sensations to understand how altered sensory processing relates to neurological disorders, including sensory loss and chronic pain. Changes in perception can reveal problems affecting receptors, sensory signaling, or interpretation within the somatosensory system. This research provides a framework for investigating how disrupted body signals influence awareness, movement, protective responses, and quality of life.
Pain and related somatic signals can alert the brain to potentially harmful conditions, supporting protective responses to injury. Their biological importance extends beyond conscious awareness because sensory information can also participate in reflexes. Investigating these responses helps researchers examine how the nervous system detects danger, coordinates reactions, and changes perception when pain becomes persistent or chronic.
Research on somatic sensations supports investigation of chronic pain, sensory loss, neurological disorders, and approaches intended to restore or modulate perception. It also contributes to studies of body awareness, reflexes, and motor coordination. By tracing how receptor signals reach and are interpreted by the brain, biologists can relate cellular sensory mechanisms to broader functional outcomes.