Sensory modality

In sensory physiology , a sensory modality is a complex sensation such as seeing , hearing , smelling , tasting and (mechanical) feeling . These are the five classic sense esleistungen that since Hermann von Helmholtz on the distinction of eye , ear , nose , tongue and skin are based. In addition, in modern physiology (of humans) the sensation of warmth and cold , pain , joint position and position in space are understood as sensory modalities.

Insufficient classic classification

The inner ear already delivers two completely different sensations - sound and balance signals. The variety of information transmitted through the skin's senses is even greater (see Sensitivity ).

In the case of seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting, the excitations from physicochemical stimuli are conducted through nerve fibers on separate nerve pathways to different groups of forward neurons (= brain centers ) responsible for triggering the sensation . Simply put, there are reserved transmission channels (communication channels), each of which has specific addresses in the brain .

This transmission scheme applies to the excitations from specific, spatially different receptors , which arrive at spatially separated centers on a separate path. Given a theory of localization, this can be assumed with relative certainty for the above-mentioned classic sensory complexes. However, it cannot be assumed to be valid for all sensory performances - especially not for the transmission of different sensory qualities . In principle, all eight possible combinations between separate and non-separate (= identical) receptors, separate and non-separate conduction pathways and separate and non-separate brain centers must be assumed with some probability. In addition to specific discrimination, sensory integration in higher-level centers is one of the main tasks of the central nervous system. When different skin receptors are excited, for example, excitations from different receptors are transferred to the same cerebral centers.

According to Ayres, a distinction is also made between:

vestibular sensory modality (sense of balance )
proprioreceptive sensory modality ( depth sensitivity )
tactile sensory modality ( surface sensitivity )

According to the law of specific sensory energies formulated by Johannes Müller , the decisive factor for the assignment to a modality is not the stimulus itself, but the sense organ with which it is perceived. A distinction is made between different qualities within a modality (e.g. pungent or bad smell; red and green vision). If the eye is inadequately irritated, it reacts with light sensations, the sensory complexes specific to the eye.

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b ^c Hermann Rein , Max Schneider : Introduction to the human physiology. 15th edition. Springer, Berlin 1964, (a + b) on tax. “Sensory modality”, p. 648 ff .; (c) on tax “Distinction between sensory qualities”, pp. 618 f., 648 f.
^ Niels Birbaumer, Robert F. Schmidt, Hans-Georg Schaible: Neuro- and sensory physiology . Springer, 2006, ISBN 3-540-25700-4 , pp. 183 ff . ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ Herbert Hensel : Erg. Physiol . 47, 166 (1952)
↑ Karoline Borchardt: Sensory processing disorder. Theory and Therapy of Sensory Integration . Schulz-Kirchner, Idstein 2005, ISBN 3-8248-0435-2 , p. 35 ff . ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[EPM-1] A ^b ^c Hermann Rein , Max Schneider : Introduction to the human physiology. 15th edition. Springer, Berlin 1964, (a + b) on tax. “Sensory modality”, p. 648 ff .; (c) on tax “Distinction between sensory qualities”, pp. 618 f., 648 f.

[BirbaumerSchmidt2006-2] Niels Birbaumer, Robert F. Schmidt, Hans-Georg Schaible: Neuro- and sensory physiology . Springer, 2006, ISBN 3-540-25700-4 , pp. 183 ff . ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[3] Herbert Hensel : Erg. Physiol . 47, 166 (1952)

[4] Karoline Borchardt: Sensory processing disorder. Theory and Therapy of Sensory Integration . Schulz-Kirchner, Idstein 2005, ISBN 3-8248-0435-2 , p. 35 ff . ( limited preview in Google Book search).