49. Sensory Nervous
System
Degree: BMed2402
v2.0 Haydn Allbutt (3/6/15)
1
Sensory Nervous System
Degree:
BMed2402
Convener:
Sharon Herkes
Date and time of Classes (for 2015):
 Mon 1/6/2015 10am-1pm CPC FDS 1 & 2
 Wed 3/6/2015 10am-1pm CPC FDS 1 & 2
 Thur 4/6/2015 10am-1pm CPC FDS 1 & 2
 Fri 5/6/2015 10am-1pm CPC FDS 1 & 2
Room:
Flexible Dry Space 1 & 2
No. of Classes:
4
No of students per class:
Mon
Wed
Thurs
Fri
75
75
75
46
Students working in groups of: 2
Class Summary
For this class the students will study the sensory following sensory systems,
cutaneous sensations, thermoception, vision and the effect of different sensory
stimuli on motor reaction times.
 Using touch and pressure sensation to examine the in various parts of the
body and special properties, two point discrimination and adaptation.
 Investigate cutaneous thermal sensitivity with reference to cool and warm
areas, relative temperature change and heat conductivity.
 Investigate the visual system by examining accommodation (the ability to
focus on objects that are close to the eye as well as objects at a greater
distance).
 Measure visual acuity using the Snellen chart and the effect of aperture on
image quality.
 Map the visual field, map the blind spot and to visually examine the retina.
 To measure reaction times to auditory and visual cues.
Special Notes for class
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The class has a lot of fiddly equipment to set up. Also as it is in FDS 1 & 2
there are almost always classes in the room immediately before it. The
equipment will either need to be on trolleys ready to be moved in with 4
casual staff to help or set up in one of the dry rooms so when the other
becomes available things are moved across
Needs about 35 laptops (one per group)
Needs 8 powerlabs
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The Blindfolds are placed into a stocking net and washed after every class
In 2015 Renee got the blindfolds washed somewhere in the CPC
Equipment Setup
Section A: Cutaneous Sensations (setup on the left side of lab1)
 10 x cutaneous sensation boxes set up as indicated on the diagram
NB: Since thermal sensation has been moved to a separate activity, the brass rod
and thermometer have been removed from the cutaneous sensation boxes.
Each Wooden box contains:
 Grid rubber stamp.
 Stamp pad
 Blind fold (washed after every class)
 Thick vonFrey Hair
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Thin von frey hair
Fine forceps.
Pair of dividers.
Ruler
Fine Marker
Pin
Cork disk
Round brass weight with cork disk glued to one face.
Section B: Thermoception
 Esky with ice (get ice from x-lab immediately before the class
 Water heater (urn) – can fill from the water tap in the Dry lab
 10 x Brass rods
 10 x Thermometer
 10 sets of three 250ml plastic beakers marked ”Cold, Warm and Hot”.
 Extra beakers and jugs for collecting ice an hot water
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Section C Vision.
 12 x Hand Periometers
 12 x Periometer indicators
 20 x Perimeter Sheets (file on set up note web page)
 4 sets of mouse and stripes and + and o charts.
In front of white boards:
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3 x Meter Ruler
3 x Bjerrum Screen set up 1 metre from white wall with space to map
3 x White Board Marker pens
3 x White stick with black tip.
Section D: Reaction Times (on each of 4 tables)
 2 x power labs
 2 x Push Button
 2 x finger pulse transducer
o Wrap the Velcro strap around the transducer to protect the diaphragm
o Tape the transducer down with the diaphragm facing upwards away
from the power lab out of sight of the subject.
Centervue Digital retinography system.
This will require a lab staff member of other trained person to assist the students.
And students should bring a USB storage devise if they wish to have a copy of the
retinal image.
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