![]() Scientists studied how important early touch and visual information are for developing the ability to combine this information. Neurons Lose their PowerĪfter whisker trimming, neurons in the somatosensory cortex no longer responded more to visual and touch together than either sensory type alone. This gave the scientists the chance to study how the brain begins to combine sensory information. Rats are born at a very early stage of brain development and most of their sensory systems are not formed for the first 10-14 days after being born. Scientists used rats to study how the brain becomes able to combine information. In this study scientists were interested in how neurons in the visual and somatosensory areas of the brain begin to combine visual and touch information. For example, you will better understand a person if you see and hear them rather than if you only see them or just hear them talking. This process, called multisensory integration, helps the nervous system to better understand what is happening around you. Later when the signals reach the brain they are combined. Sensory information, like vision or touch, use separate pathways. Scientists call the items that activate the nervous system, such as what we see or touch, stimuli. For example, the visual cortex is responsible for processing information of what we see and the somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing information about touch. This helps to make sure that messages travel to the correct area of the brain. These cells send messages to each other through special pathways that mainly send one type of information. ![]() The brain is made up of many cells, called neurons. The sensory systems of young rats, like these week-old pups, are undeveloped for the first 1-2 weeks of life.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |