All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which option best identifies the role of the spinal cord in processing sensory signals?
Answer: It relays signals to the brain and can produce rapid reflex responses. The spinal cord both transmits signals and controls reflexes.
Flashcard 2: Which type of neuron carries sensory information from receptors to the CNS?
Answer: Sensory (afferent) neuron. Afferent means "carrying toward" the central nervous system.
Flashcard 3: Which lobe primarily processes hearing and is important in language comprehension?
Answer: Temporal lobe (auditory cortex). Located on the sides of the brain, it processes sounds.
Flashcard 4: Which lobe primarily processes visual information from the eyes?
Answer: Occipital lobe (visual cortex). Located at the back of the brain, it processes what we see.
Flashcard 5: Which lobe of the cerebral cortex primarily processes touch, pressure, pain, and temperature?
Answer: Parietal lobe (somatosensory cortex). Located behind the frontal lobe, it processes body sensations.
Flashcard 6: What is the cerebral cortex mainly responsible for in sensory processing?
Answer: Conscious perception and interpretation of sensory information. The cortex creates our conscious experience of sensory input.
Flashcard 7: Which brain structure acts as the main relay station for most sensory signals to the cortex?
Answer: Thalamus. Most sensory signals pass through here before reaching the cortex.
Flashcard 8: What chemical messengers carry signals across a synapse?
Answer: Neurotransmitters. These chemicals bind to receptors on the next neuron to continue the signal.
Flashcard 9: What is the name of the junction where one neuron communicates with another neuron?
Answer: Synapse. The gap between neurons where chemical signals transmit information.
Flashcard 10: What is the central nervous system (CNS) composed of?
Answer: Brain and spinal cord. The CNS is the body's main processing center for nervous system information.
Flashcard 11: What is the name of the process that converts a stimulus into an electrical signal?
Answer: Sensory transduction. Physical/chemical stimuli are converted to electrical nerve impulses.
Flashcard 12: What is a sensory receptor in the nervous system?
Answer: A cell that detects a stimulus and converts it to a nerve signal. Specialized cells convert physical/chemical stimuli into electrical impulses.
Flashcard 13: Which part of the brain is especially important for balance and coordinating movement?
Answer: Cerebellum. Located below the cerebrum, it coordinates smooth movements.
Flashcard 14: What is the main function of interneurons in the CNS during sensory processing?
Answer: They connect neurons and integrate information within the CNS. These neurons form circuits between sensory and motor neurons.
Flashcard 15: What is a reflex arc in sensory processing?
Answer: A fast pathway where the spinal cord triggers a response without the brain first. Bypasses the brain for immediate protective responses.
Flashcard 16: Which pathway describes the correct order for most sensory signals to reach conscious awareness?
Answer: Receptor → sensory neuron → CNS → thalamus → sensory cortex. Most sensory signals follow this path to reach awareness.
Flashcard 17: What is meant by the term "integration" in the context of brain processing of sensory input?
Answer: Combining and interpreting sensory signals to form a meaningful perception. The brain combines multiple inputs to create unified experiences.
Flashcard 18: Which term describes the brain’s decreased response to a constant, unchanging stimulus?
Answer: Sensory adaptation. The brain filters out constant stimuli to focus on changes.
Flashcard 19: What is the correct order for information flow from stimulus to brain processing?
Answer: Stimulus → receptor → sensory neuron → CNS (brain/spinal cord). Signals travel from outside to inside via this pathway to reach processing centers.
Flashcard 20: What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Answer: Sensation detects stimuli; perception interprets the sensory information. Sensation is raw input; perception is meaningful interpretation.
Flashcard 21: What is the role of motor (efferent) neurons after the brain processes sensory input?
Answer: They carry commands from the CNS to muscles or glands. Efferent means "carrying away" from the CNS to effectors.
Flashcard 22: What is a synapse?
Answer: The junction where one neuron communicates with another cell. Neurons don't touch; they communicate across this gap.
Flashcard 23: What is a neurotransmitter?
Answer: A chemical messenger released at a synapse to pass a signal. These molecules bridge the synaptic gap between neurons.
Flashcard 24: What is the correct sequence from stimulus to brain processing?
Answer: Stimulus → receptor → sensory neuron → CNS/brain → response. This pathway shows how sensory input reaches the brain.
Flashcard 25: What is the primary function of the cerebral cortex in sensory processing?
Answer: It interprets sensory input to create perception. Raw sensory data becomes meaningful experiences here.
Flashcard 26: Which part of the brain is most associated with initiating voluntary motor responses?
Answer: Frontal lobe (motor cortex). Contains the primary motor cortex for voluntary movement.
Flashcard 27: What is the cerebellum’s main role in responding to sensory information?
Answer: It coordinates balance and smooth, accurate movements. Fine-tunes motor commands using sensory feedback.
Flashcard 28: What is the brainstem’s role in processing sensory signals related to survival?
Answer: It controls vital reflexes such as breathing and heart rate. These automatic responses don't require conscious thought.
Flashcard 29: What is sensory adaptation?
Answer: Reduced receptor response to a constant, unchanging stimulus. Why you stop noticing constant background sounds or smells.
Flashcard 30: What is a sensory receptor in the nervous system?
Answer: A cell or ending that detects a stimulus and starts a nerve signal. Receptors convert stimuli into nerve signals for processing.