Other SensesAP Psychology| Mrs. Hensley

Touch

• When our skin is indented, pierced or experiences a change in temperature, our sense of touch is activated.

• We have different types of nerve endings in every patch of skin

• Some respond to pressure while others respond to temperature

• We sense placement of touch by the place on our body where the nerve endings fire.

• Nerve endings are more concentrated in different parts of our body.

• If we want to feel something, we usually use our fingertip

• If touch or temperature receptors are stimulated sharply, pain receptors will fire

• Pain warns us of potential dangers

Gate-Control Theory

• Explains how we experience pain

• Some pain messages have higher priority than others

• When a higher priority message is sent, the gate swings open for it and swings shut for a low priority message is sent

Taste (Gustation)

• Chemicals from the food we eat are absorbed by taste buds on our tongue

• Taste buds are located on the papillae (bumps)

• Taste buds are located all over the tongue

• Sense 5 different tastes

• Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami (savory, meaty taste)

• People differ in their ability to taste food

Smell (or Olfaction)

• Sense of smell depends on chemicals emitted by substances

• Molecules settle in a mucous membrane at the top of each nostril and are absorbed by receptor cells located there

• As many as 100 different types of smell receptors may exist

• Receptor cells are linked to the olfactory bulb which gathers messages from the olfactory receptor cells and sends info to the brain

• Olfactory bulb connect to the brain at the amygdala and then to the hippocampus (makes up the limbic system)

• Connection to the limbic system may explain why smell is a trigger for memories

Body Position Senses

• Vestibular Sense: how our body is oriented in space, keeps track of overall orientation of body

• Kinesthetic Sense: position and orientation of specific body parts

• Rollercoaster ride may cause dizziness and nauseous reaction b/c the brain receives confusing signals about body position