The Vestibular Sense | Introduction to Psychology

The Vestibular Sense, Proprioception, and Kinesthesia ; Definition, Application ; Vestibular Sense, Sensory system that contributes to balance and the sense of ... Skiptomaincontent IntroductiontoPsychology Module5:SensationandPerception Searchfor: TheVestibularSense LearningObjectives Describethebasicfunctionsofthevestibular,proprioceptive,andkinestheticsensorysystems TheVestibularSense,Proprioception,andKinesthesia Thevestibularsensecontributestoourabilitytomaintainbalanceandbodyposture.AsFigure1shows,themajorsensoryorgans(utricle,saccule,andthethreesemicircularcanals)ofthissystemarelocatednexttothecochleaintheinnerear.Thevestibularorgansarefluid-filledandhavehaircells,similartotheonesfoundintheauditorysystem,whichrespondtomovementoftheheadandgravitationalforces.Whenthesehaircellsarestimulated,theysendsignalstothebrainviathevestibularnerve.Althoughwemaynotbeconsciouslyawareofourvestibularsystem’ssensoryinformationundernormalcircumstances,itsimportanceisapparentwhenweexperiencemotionsicknessand/ordizzinessrelatedtoinfectionsoftheinnerear(Khan&Chang,2013). Figure1.Themajorsensoryorgansofthevestibularsystemarelocatednexttothecochleaintheinnerear.Theseincludetheutricle,saccule,andthethreesemicircularcanals(posterior,superior,andhorizontal). Inadditiontomaintainingbalance,thevestibularsystemcollectsinformationcriticalforcontrollingmovementandthereflexesthatmovevariouspartsofourbodiestocompensateforchangesinbodyposition.Therefore,bothproprioception(perceptionofbodyposition)andkinesthesia(perceptionofthebody’smovementthroughspace)interactwithinformationprovidedbythevestibularsystem. Thesesensorysystemsalsogatherinformationfromreceptorsthatrespondtostretchandtensioninmuscles,joints,skin,andtendons(Lackner&DiZio,2005;Proske,2006;Proske&Gandevia,2012).Proprioceptiveandkinestheticinformationtravelstothebrainviathespinalcolumn.Severalcorticalregionsinadditiontothecerebellumreceiveinformationfromandsendinformationtothesensoryorgansoftheproprioceptiveandkinestheticsystems. Definition Application VestibularSense Sensorysystemthatcontributestobalanceandthesenseofspatialorientation. Youhaveanearinfectionandfrequentlyfeeldizzy.Orifyouweretoexperiencevertigo,youmightfeellikeyourentirebodywasspinninginspaceandbeunabletowalk. Propioception Thesenseofthepositionofpartsofthebody,relativetootherneighboringpartsofthebody.Focusesonthe body’scognitive awarenessofmovement. Youstepoffacurbandknowwheretoputyourfoot.Youpushanelevatorbuttonandcontrolhowhardyouhavetopressdownwithyourfingers. Kinesthesia Awarenessofthepositionandmovementofthepartsofthebodyusingsensoryorgansinjointsandmuscles.Kinesthesiaisakeycomponentinmusclememoryandhand-eyecoordination.Itismorebehavioralthanpropioception. Youareawareofyourarmmovement whileswingingagolfclub.Focusesonthebody’smovementsandnotonequilibriumorbalance. WatchIt Reviewthethingsyoulearnedaboutthesenses inthefollowingCrashCoursevideo. TryIt Glossary kinesthesia: perceptionofthebody’smovementthroughspace proprioception: perceptionofbodyposition vestibularsense: contributestoourabilitytomaintainbalanceandbodyposture LicensesandAttributions CClicensedcontent,OriginalModification,adaptation,andoriginalcontent.Providedby:LumenLearning.License:CCBY-SA:Attribution-ShareAlikeCClicensedcontent,SharedpreviouslyTheOtherSenses.Authoredby:OpenStaxCollege.Locatedat:http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:Nw9FOKLs@6/The-Other-Senses.License:CCBY:Attribution.LicenseTerms:Downloadforfreeathttp://cnx.org/contents/4abf04bf-93a0-45c3-9cbc-2cefd46e68cc@5.48Homunculus-CrashCoursePsychology#6.Providedby:CrashCourse.Locatedat:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxZWtc0mYpQ.License:Other.LicenseTerms:StandardYouTubeLicenseAdditionalSensorySystems,informationforchart.Providedby:Boundless.Locatedat:https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/.Project:BoundlessPsychology.License:CCBY-SA:Attribution-ShareAlike Previous Next