EXSS2025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Psychophysics, Caffeine, Discrimination Testing

• School: University of Sydney
• Department: Exercise and Sport Science
• Course: EXSS2025
• Professor: Ross Sanders

Document Summary

Lecture 2: proprioception: key role in coordinating movement; guiding/adjusting movement & producing skilled performance. Sensory (afferent) information integral part of coordinated movement: Efferent & afferent neural activity: efferent: muscle activity & movement, afferent: sensory activity/input. Higher concentration in certain body areas: timing: when/how long, together these 4 attributes of a stimulus yield sensation. In dermis: deeper touch - gripping things; fast change in pressure (squeezing/release) Lecture 2: ruffini endings, dermis, deep touch, constant grasp/pressure. 6: can change our sensation of touch on the body, sense of touch decreases when sleeping (decreased cns action) so decreased perceived sensation, increased sensitivity during the day. Are minimal & maximal threshold intensities for detection. Detection curves can shift to left or right as sensitivity levels are changed (e. g. due to natural [alertness] or artificial stimulation or suppression). Accordingly, probability of detecting a particular stimulus intensity changes.