1. The Tactile System

2. 1.Overview The tactile system includes the nerves under the skin’s surface The information sent to the brain includes light touch, pain, pressure, and temperature This helps the person be aware of the environment and also for protective reasons Two Subsystems: 1.Discriminatory: which lets us know where we’re being touched 2.Protective: lets us know if we need to protect ourselves A.Structure; What does it look like ?

4. B.Function: How does it work? The body has multiple types of sensation  Ex) light touch, pain, pressure, temperature, and muscle and joint All these are on three different pathways to the spinal cord From there, the next target is the person's brain

6. II. Childhood When a baby is born, their reflexes are rigid  Ex) when a baby’s foot is tickled, this shows how the tactile system influences the whole body Overtime, these generalized response should be integrated Which basically means that overtime the whole body won’t respond to touch  Ex) some toys are interactive so it introduces touch to babies A.How it starts

7. The young child locates what kind of touch is experienced and where  Ex) light or deep The tactile system develops more than when the person was a baby Alerts when possible dangers are coming  Ex) Light touch stimulates hair and superficial skin cells and sends it the brain to interpret if there are any possible dangers B. Development

8. III. Tactile Defensiveness Tactile defensiveness skin is over sensitive It’s wired to a part of the brain that alerts the system to danger The person with this can’t tell the difference between a threat and a neutral touch  Ex) Is Mom going in to hug me or to hurt me? The child doesn’t know if it needs to be on the defensive or not A.What happens?

9. Carry on through their childhood and through adulthood with this Can’t have a relationship, since sensitive to touch Treatment can include consulting with a sensory integration therapist B. If left untreated

10. Quiz 1.Which subsystem lets us know where we’re being touched? a)Protective b)Defense c)Discriminatory d)Transitional 2.What are two examples of the types of sensations humans feel? a)Pain and pressure b)Love and hate c)Threat and neutral d)Hard and soft

11. 3.What is an example of a reflex babies have when they are young? a)Hungry so they cry b)Tickles the foot so they jerk it away c)Sleepy so they yawn d)Happy so they laugh 4.What is Tactile Defensiveness? a)A disorder where the child has over sensitive skin b)A disorder where the child can’t feel touch c)A disorder where the child can’t sleep d)A disorder where the child feels everything 5.What are some ways to help Tactile Defensiveness? a)There are no ways b)Take medicine c)It will eventually go away d)Consult with a therapist

12. 6. What two organs are involved in the tactile system? a)Heart and brain b)Heart and nerves c)Brain and nerves d)Brain and eyes 7.What is the first step of the tactile system? a)Through the nerves b)The eyes see what is going to be touched first c)The brain thinks about it first d)The nose smells it first

13. 8.What is the last step of the tactile system? a)The heart feels it b)Returns to the nerves c)The person touches it again d)The brain interprets it 9.In the development stage, what does the tactile help with? a)Enjoying the touch b)Alerting for danger c)Nothing d)Telling differences between different things

14. 10.What does it mean when “the generalized response should be integrated?” a)The whole body won’t respond to the touch b)The whole body will respond to the touch c)Two feelings of touch will merge d)There will be no touch

15. Bibliography Works Cited Gescheider, George A., John H. Wright, and Ronald T. Verrillo. Information-processing Channels in the Tactile Sensory System: A Psychophysical and Physiological Analysis. New York: Psychology, 2009. Print. "Pediatric Occupational Therapy Tips." : The Tactile, Vestibular, and Proprioceptive Systems. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. "The Tactile System and Sensory Processing Disorder." Sensory Processing Disorder Made Simple. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2013. "TREATING TACTILE DEFENSIVENESS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT." TREATING TACTILE DEFENSIVENESS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013.