sensation

(noun)

The function of the low-level biochemical and neurological events that occur when a stimulus activates the receptor cells of a sensory organ.

Related Terms

  • reverberation
  • transduction
  • Perception

Examples of sensation in the following topics:

  • Phantom Limb Sensation

    • 'Phantom limb sensation' is characterized by feeling as if a missing limb were still attached to the body.
    • Phantom limb sensations include pain, itches, twitching, and feelings of gesturing.
    • Approximately 60 to 80 percent of individuals with an amputation experience phantom sensations in their amputated limbs, and the majority of the sensations are painful.
    • Phantom pains are often described as burning or similarly strange sensations and can be extremely agonizing for some people, but the exact sensations differ widely for individuals.
    • Other induced sensations include warmth, cold, itching, squeezing, tightness, and tingling.
  • Sensation to Perception

    • The goal of sensation is detection, while the goal of perception is to create useful information about our environment.
    • Sensation and perception are two distinct stages of processing during human sensing.
    • Sensation is a function of the low level, biochemical, and neurological mechanisms that allow the receptor cells of a sensory organ to detect an environmental stimulus.
    • In other words, the goal of sensation is detection, while the goal of perception is to create useful information about the environment.
    • Transduction can be likened to a bridge connecting sensation to perception.
  • Overview of Sensation

    • Sensation refers to our ability to detect or sense the physical qualities of our environment.
    • Paresthesia is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin that may result from nerve damage and may be permanent or temporary.
    • Temperature sensing or thermoception: The sensation of heat and the absence of heat (cold).
    • While the exact definition of sensation is still controversial, most scientists agree that all senses rely on four fundamental sensory capacities:
    • Describe what sensation means in terms of the peripheral nervous system
  • Spinal Cord Compression

    • Example symptoms of cord compression include back pain, a dermatome of increased sensation, paralysis below the compression, decreased sensation below the compression, and more.
    • Symptoms suggestive of cord compression are back pain, a dermatome of increased sensation, paralysis of limbs below the level of compression, decreased sensation below the level of compression, urinary and fecal incontinence and/or urinary retention.
    • Lhermitte's sign (intermittent shooting electrical sensation) and hyperreflexia may be present.
  • Functions of the Brain Stem

    • Diseases of the brainstem can result in abnormalities in cranial nerve function, leading to visual and hearing disturbances, changes in sensation, muscle weakness, vertigo, coordination problems, swallowing and speech difficulty, and voice changes.
    • This includes the corticospinal tract (motor), the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway (fine touch, vibration sensation, and proprioception) and the spinothalamic tract (pain, temperature, itch, and crude touch).
    • The ascending pathways from the body to the brain are the sensory pathways, including the spinothalamic tract for pain and temperature sensation and the dorsal column, fasciculus gracilis, and cuneatus for touch, proprioception, and pressure sensation. 
    • The facial sensations have similar pathways and also travel in the spinothalamic tract and the medial lemniscus.
  • Nails

    • Finger nails are made of keratin and they perform two major functions: protection and sensation.
    • The fingernail generally serves two purposes: as a protective plate and enhances sensation of the fingertip.
    • The protection function of the fingernail is commonly known, but the sensation function is equally important.
  • Trigeminal (V) Nerve

    • The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve and it is responsible for sensation and motor function in the face and mouth.
    • It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing.
    • The sensory function of the trigeminal nerve is to provide the tactile, motion, position, and pain sensations of the face and mouth.
  • Pain Sensation

    • Pain is an unpleasant sensation caused by the activation of nociceptors by thermal, mechanical, chemical, or other stimuli.
    • A delta fibers (Aδ fibers), a type of sensory fiber, are associated with the sensation of cold and pressure.
  • Dental Anesthesia

    • Lidocaine, a local anesthetic that is commonly used in dentistry, is injected directly into the nerve to block pain sensation in the mouth.
    • An injection of local anesthetic directly into this nerve blocks sensation.
  • Autonomic Reflexes

    • General visceral afferent sensations are mostly unconscious visceral motor reflex sensations from hollow organs and glands that are transmitted to the CNS (see for a depiction of a typical nerve fiber, including general visceral afferent fibers).
    • While the unconscious reflex arcs are normally undetectable, in certain instances, they may send pain sensations to the CNS masked as referred pain.
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