Lateral Inhibition in Fundamentals of Physiology - Study Guide | BMS 360, Study notes of Biology

Download Lateral Inhibition in Fundamentals of Physiology - Study Guide | BMS 360 and more Study notes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! 31 January Strength of a signal can be relayed by the frequency of signals and the number of units signaling (they are all or none) Lateral inhibition Inhibitory neurons block action potentials of adjacent neurons Sharpens acuity Better understanding of location Stimulus properties Sensory type (modality) Nociceptor, mechanoreceptor, etc. Perception is dependent on receptors Signal transduction Stimulus intensity Firing frequency Number of neurons activated Stimulus location Size of receptive field Overlapping receptive fields Higher convergence, lower precision Lateral inhibition, higher precision Doctrine of specific nerve energy Receptors can respond to more than one type of energy Can give rise to only one type of sensation Neurotransmitters can be reduced Opiates lessen release of Substance P Morphine has the same effect Signals cross to the other side of the spinal cord before travelling to the brain Signal from right arm goes into right side of spinal cord, then crosses to left side and goes to left side of the brain Applies to sensory signals Crossover in brainstem for sensory signals other than temperature and touch Somatosensory cortex in parietal lobe maps the body Surprisingly large area of somatosensory cortex for hands/face Chronic pain Allodynia: lower threshold for pain Hyperalgesia: greater pain to stimulus Both can be seen in diabetes Referred pain Visceral and somatic ascending axons Convergence on some interneurons Crossing of signals Example: heart attack, incorrect localization of pain site to left arm