Affective sensation
Encyclopedia
An affective sensation is a sensation accompanied with a strong compulsion to act on it, causing reflex action
s such as the scratch reflex
or the withdrawal reflex
. Affective sensations are transmitted via the spinothalamic tract
through the spinal cord
.
Reflex action
A reflex action, also known as a reflex, is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus. A true reflex is a behavior which is mediated via the reflex arc; this does not apply to casual uses of the term 'reflex'.-See also:...
s such as the scratch reflex
Scratch reflex
The scratch reflex is a response to activation of sensory neurons whose peripheral terminals are located on the surface of the body. Some sensory neurons can be activated by stimulation with an external object such as a parasite on the body surface. Alternately, some sensory neurons can respond to...
or the withdrawal reflex
Withdrawal reflex
The withdrawal reflex is a spinal reflex intended to protect the body from damaging stimuli...
. Affective sensations are transmitted via the spinothalamic tract
Spinothalamic tract
The spinothalamic tract is a sensory pathway originating in the spinal cord. It transmits information to the thalamus about pain, temperature, itch and crude touch...
through the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
.