Questions for Sensory

For each sense:

Draw the neurons and structures involved in the sense of _________. Show how a signal (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), moves from the sensory neuron through the processing systems. Name the cranial nerve(s) involved. Show how this sense transduces an environmental signal into an action potential that goes to the brain.

Show how the cell membrane receives light and the involvement of a G-protein. Show the second messenger and the outcome of the receptor-stimulated events.

Show a graph of the relationship between current change and odorant concentration. Is this response all-or-none, or graded?

Name some classical somatosensory system nerve endings and indicate their function. Use one example to demonstrate signal transduction from touch to sensory neurons. Indicate where the sensory neuron is, how it travels to the brain and where the end of the afferent signal is in the brain.

Explain how pain somatic and visceral sensations are organized. Show events form perception to sensation of pain.

What is the vomeronasal organ? Where is it and what does it do? How is it organized (which tracts are involved?) to result in perception of an odor? What is a pheromone? Given an example of one.

Draw an eyeball and label its parts. Indicate how light enters and is received on the retina.

Indicate the biochemistry for light perception with the rhodopsin system. Why would Vitamin A deficiency cause “night blindness”?

Explain dark adaptation of vision.

Show the pathways for rods and cones through to the optic nerve. Where does the visual system terminate in the neocortex?

Show the basement membrane of the choclea. How do loud sounds cause deafness? Why is a loud base sound more damaging than a loud treble sound? Show intermediate synapses.

Show the pathways for hearing through its cranial nerve. Where does the hearing system terminate in the neocortex? Show intermediate synapses.