PSCH 343 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Fusiform Face Area, Outline Of Object Recognition, Musical Tone
Document Summary
Why is the body map in s1 distorted? (number of receptors, size of receptive fields) The homunculus is a visual representation of what a person would look like if the size of their body parts was directly related to their cortical representation. The body map in s1 is distorted because the body parts that are used the most are represented in the brain as larger areas. The more receptors there are, the smaller the receptive fields, so acuity is greater. Areas with larger receptors and smaller receptive fields are represented in the brain as larger areas. Huge area of the cortex is responding to these. How can experience alter the sensory map of the body? homunculi in the brain, refer to an area of cortex where body surfaces are mapped. People who read braille (which is done with an index finger) develop large areas responsive to stimulation from the index finger.
