Question

What can be inferred about the relative sizes of the areas of cortex that process signals from skin not densely innervated with sensory receptors and skin that is densely innervated with sensory receptors?

a) The area for skin not densely innervated with sensory receptors is larger.
b) The areas are roughly the same in size.
c) The area for densely innervated skin is larger.
d) None of the above

Answer 1

The cortex has larger areas dedicated to processing signals from densely innervated skin compared to less densely innervated skin, reflecting the concept of sensory topography.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the areas of the cortex that process signals from skin with varying densities of sensory receptors, it's insightful to understand the concept of sensory topography. This principle suggests that regions of the body that have more sensory receptors, such as the fingertips, will have larger cortical representation compared to areas with fewer receptors like the back. The somatosensory cortex within the brain reflects this by having a disproportionately larger area dedicated to processing signals from densely innervated skin. Therefore, the correct inference is that the area for densely innervated skin is larger in the cortex than areas for less densely innervated skin.