Sensory maps
Sensory Maps
Sensory maps (pronunciation: /ˈsɛnsəri mæps/) are a specific type of neural map that represents the spatial organization of sensory information in the brain. They are a crucial component of the sensory system, which includes the five traditional senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, as well as other senses such as balance and body position.
Etymology
The term "sensory map" is derived from the Latin word "sensus" meaning "feeling" and the Old English word "mæppe" meaning "cloth, chart, map". It was first used in the context of neuroscience in the early 20th century.
Function
Sensory maps are used by the brain to process and interpret sensory information from the body and the external environment. They are formed through the spatial arrangement of neurons in the brain that correspond to different parts of the body or different aspects of the sensory environment. For example, in the somatosensory cortex, there is a sensory map of the body's surface, with different areas of the cortex representing different parts of the body.
Types of Sensory Maps
There are several types of sensory maps in the brain, each corresponding to a different sense. These include:
- Somatotopic map: This map represents the body's surface in the somatosensory cortex. It is used for processing touch and proprioceptive information.
- Retinotopic map: This map represents the visual field in the visual cortex. It is used for processing visual information.
- Tonotopic map: This map represents different frequencies of sound in the auditory cortex. It is used for processing auditory information.
- Olfactory map: This map represents different odors in the olfactory bulb. It is used for processing olfactory information.
Related Terms
- Neural map
- Sensory system
- Somatosensory cortex
- Somatotopic map
- Retinotopic map
- Tonotopic map
- Olfactory map
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sensory maps
- Wikipedia's article - Sensory maps
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