The Sensory System of Touch

PSY/340Alexandria Bachmann, Angela Davidson, Tamara Schantz

March 24, 2016Dr. Ron Dankowski

ContentsTouch

Damage to structures

Damage affects the nervous system

Why this change has occurred

References

Somatosensory System of Nerves

Damaged Structures

Sense of touch identifies the size, the shape, and texture

Touch process

• Touch receptors to spinal cord

• Contact with nervous system

• Send info to the thalamus and sensory cortex

Multiple Sclerosis • Neurological disease • Decrease of white matter • Lesions in the spinal cord, optic

nerves, brainstem, and cerebellum

• Can destroy the grey matter and deep grey matter

• Corrupts the myelin

Prevention and Treatment • The illness cannot be prevented• Carries a strong genetic

component• Natalizumab-a humanized form

of an antibody prevents new brain lesions from forming

• Cladribine and Fingolimod slow the growth of cells within the immune system the mistakenly attack the myelin

• Physical therapies can help overall well-being

Damaged Structure

Deformation

Impact on nerves Not function properly in their

environment Damage caused can have a

negative Impact ones mental state Send wrong messages throughout

the body Pain messages

Effects on Nervous System: Central Nervous System DamageSomatosensory perception: Tactile

information Effects:

Detection of a touch

Complex cognitive delicts

Experience of additional body part

Two systems:

Medical lemniscus and spinothalamic relays messages to the thalamus

Damage lead to touch disorders

Fact

The insula is in affective touch, pain and temperature sensitivity and in higher order tactile processing

Affects: Nervous system Conn

Disorders

Primary – Hylognosia, Morphognosia, Tactile Apraxia

Body related – Autotopagnosia, Heterotopagnosia problems

Why damage occurred

Sensitivity to tactile sensations

Infection

Disease

Damage to neurons or pathways

Plasticity reorganization

Loss of limbs

Reorganization

Why damage has occurred Conn.

Post central gyrus

Tamar Makin is the area of the cortex dedicated to the senses

Conclusion Discussion

Processes of touch and what touch does for the body

Damaged processes

How the nervous system relates to touch damage

NOW LETS TALK ABOUT WHY

ANY QUESTIONS ?

References

Alliance, D. (2006). The DANA foundation. Retrieved from http://www.dana.org/Publications/ReportDetails.aspx?id=44138

Kalat, J. W. (2015). Biological psychology (11th ed.). Retrieved from https://phoenix.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781285028200/cfi/0!/4/2/2@0:0.00

Rejdak K, Jackson S, Giovannoni G. Multiple sclerosis: a practical overview for clinicians. Br Med Bull 2010;95:79-104.