Sensory receptors and brain processing
What are sensory receptors? Sensory receptors are specialized cells (epidermal) that respond to environmental stimuli and consist of structural and support cells that produce the exterior form of the receptor, and the internal neural dendrites that respond to specific stimuli.
Brain processing starts with input from the sensory organs, which transform physical stimuli such as touch, heat, sound waves, or photons of light into electrochemical signals.
Sensory receptors
Smell
Taste
Hearing
Touch (tactile)
Sight (vision)
Movement
Sensory receptors (examples)
Thermoreceptors - Thermoreceptors detect changes in temperature
Specific examples
Chemoreceptors - a chemoreceptor detects changes in the normal environment. For example, it detects an increase in blood levels of carbon dioxide or a decrease in blood levels of oxygen. It also transmits that information to the central nervous system which engages body responses to restore homeostasis.
Mechanoreceptors - Mechanoreceptors are sensory neurons located within joint capsular tissues, ligaments, tendons, muscle, and skin.
Photoreceptors - Photoreceptors are specialized cells for detecting light. They are found in the retina which converts light into electrical signals that stimulate physiological processes.
Brain processing
The human brain contains approximately one hundred billion neurons
The temporal lobe generates memories and emotions.
The frontal lobe is important for cognitive functions, such as thought and planning ahead, and for the control of voluntary movement
Importance
The parietal lobe integrates input from different senses and is important for spatial orientation and navigation.