The Somatosensory System: Touch and Proprioception

Overview

Afferent Fibers Convey Somatosensory Information to the Central Nervous System

Somatosensory Afferents Convey Different Functional Information

Mechanoreceptors Specialized to Receive Tactile Information

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS: Dermatomes

Mechanoreceptors Specialized for Proprioception

Central Pathways Conveying Tactile Information from the Body: The Dorsal Column–Medial Lemniscal System

Central Pathways Conveying Tactile Information from the Face: The Trigeminothalamic System

Central Pathways Conveying Proprioceptive Information from the Body

Central Pathways Conveying Proprioceptive Information from the Face

Somatosensory Components of the Thalamus

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

BOX 9A Patterns of Organization within the Sensory Cortices: Brain Modules

Beyond SI: Corticocortical and Descending Pathways

Plasticity in the Adult Cerebral Cortex