PSYCH 2E03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Cranial Nerves, Lateral Sulcus, Upper Set
25 Feb 2016
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Localization: the brain is functionally subdivided into areas, regions or modules that are specialized for certain types of function: imaging techniques: fmri, etc. Parallelism: presence of multiple pathways within a given sensory system that transmit and process different features of a complex stimulus relatively independently. Lateralization: the brain allocates many functions across 2 hemispheres: ex. Visual: each hemisphere is specialized for certain functions (mood, emotion) The sensory system is the afferent division of the peripheral nervous system. Neurons in primary sensory cortex: passes information on to other areas in the brain. These cells have proteins on their plasma membrane that respond to environmental cues: when their ligand is found, binds to closed ion channels causing them to open and allowing ions to flow through. The first step in sensory processing is sensory transduction. All sensation begins by the process of transduction. Transduction: conversion of external energy electrical signal (receptor potential: always mediated by opening/closing ion channels.
