Sensory system

(See also sense)

Functions

Receptive fields have been identified for the visual system, auditory system and somatosensory system, so far.

Related Topics:
Receptive field - Visual system - Auditory system - Somatosensory system

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Coding

Sensory systems code for four aspects of a stimulus; type (modality), intensity, location, and duration.

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Modality

There are many stimulus modalities; temperature, taste, sound, pressure. The type of sensory receptor activated by a stimulus plays the primary role in coding the stimulus modality.

Related Topics:
Stimulus modalities - Sensory receptor

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In the Memory-prediction framework, Jeff Hawkins mentions a correspondence between the six layers of the cortex and the six layers of the optic tract of the visual system. The Primary visual cortex has areas labelled V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, MT, IT, etc.

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Hawkins then lays out a scheme for the analogous modalities of the sensory system. In particular, there will be cells which can be labelled as belonging to V1, V2, etc., A1, A2, etc.:

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V1

Visual Area 1, etc. for vision, via the visual system to the primary visual cortex.

Related Topics:
Visual system - Primary visual cortex

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A1

Auditory Area 1, etc. for hearing, via the auditory system, the primary auditory cortex.

Related Topics:
Auditory system - Primary auditory cortex

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S1

Somatosensory Area 1, via the somatosensory system for touch and proprioception. The somatosensory system feeds the primary somatosensory cortex#Brodmann Areas 3, 1 and 2. But there are also pathways for proprioception (via the cerebellum), and motor control (via Brodmann area 4).

Related Topics:
Somatosensory system - Touch - Proprioception - Primary somatosensory cortex#Brodmann Areas 3, 1 and 2 - Cerebellum - Motor - Control - Brodmann area 4

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G1

Gustatory Area 1, etc. for taste.

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O1

Olfactory Area 1, etc. for smell (olfaction).

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