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The human somatosensory system: from perception to decision making
Burkhard Pleger1, Arno Villringer
1Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. bpleger@cbs.mpg.de
Progress in Neurobiology
|November 6, 2012
Summary
This review explores how brain networks support somatosensory perception and decision-making. It highlights the role of touch in cognitive development and real-world interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Human and animal research has advanced understanding of brain networks in somatosensory perception and decision-making.
- Methodological and computational advancements enable complex research reflecting real-world sensory and cognitive demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on somatosensory perception and decision-making.
- To focus on supplementary brain network recruitment based on situational demands.
- To explore the link between tactile experiences and cognitive development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of human and animal research.
- Analysis of studies on sensory-motor integration in visual decision-making.
- Examination of research on tactile experiences and semantic/social decision-making.
Main Results:
- Somatosensory perception and decision-making involve complex, adaptable brain networks.
- Sensory-motor integration is crucial for translating sensory information into motor output.
- Tactile experiences may fundamentally support semantic and social cognition.
Conclusions:
- The brain dynamically recruits networks for somatosensory perception and decision-making based on context.
- Understanding sensory-motor integration is key to comprehending sensory-to-motor pathways.
- The early development of touch perception is foundational for higher-level cognitive functions.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
01:33Somatosensation
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
01:29Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways
Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
01:31What is a Sensory System?
Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
01:26Introduction to Special Senses
Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.