ABSTRACT
Introduction T he function o f the sensory system is to provide infor mation to the central nervous system about the external world, the internal environment, and the position o f the body in space. Impulses traveling toward the central nerv ous system are called afferent impulses. Afferent infor mation may be transmitted 1) as conscious data that are perceived by the organism and then used to m odify behavior; 2) as unconscious data that, although used to modify behavior, remain unperceived by the organism; and 3) as both conscious and unconscious data. Afferent impulses are functionally subdivided into the following:
3. Special somatic afferent-sensory information relat ing to vision, audition, and equilibrium
4. Special visceral afferent-sensory information relat ing to taste and smell
Although introductory comments are made in rela tion to each of these afferent subdivisions, this chapter is concerned primarily w ith the organization and func tion o f the general somatic afferent system.
