List two general characteristics common to muscle tissue.

Outline the function of interoceptors in sensory input during movement.

Explain the signal-detection process.

contractility✔

extensibility✔

elasticity✔

atrophy✔

hypertrophy✔

controlled by nerve stimuli✔

fed by capillaries✔

interoceptors provide information from within the body✔

interoceptors ‹joint receptors, muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs, vestibular apparatus> provide information about the position of the body and limbs✔

provide information about internal states such as pH, lung stretch, temperature✔

signal detection process consists of detection, comparison and recognition ‹DCR›✔

it is the process by which the brain interprets and makes sense of the information it is receiving from the sensory organs✔

the most important sensory information present in the environment, are generally visual and auditory✔

detection is the process by which the brain identifies that a stimulus is present✔

comparison is when we attend to something we have sensed and compare it to information in long-term memory✔

recognition occurs when the code of the incoming information matches a code stored in the long-term memory✔

detection of a signal is dependent on the intensity of the signal compared to the intensity of the background noise✔

background noise is non-essential information such as auditory information or information from within the individual such as worrying about failure✔

likelihood of detection is influenced by sensitivity of sense organs eg eyes✔

likelihood of detection is influenced by experience with familiar signals✔

arousal level can impact on detection. Low arousal will see the signal missed, over arousal can see detection of a signal that does not exist✔

signal detection proficiency can be improved by ensuring the performer is optimally aroused and be aided by selective attention✔

selective attention can be improved through learning from past experience✔

Some pupils answered this well, however a few pupils listed the two characteristics, rather than describe them. Elasticity and Contractility were the most common answers.

Few students achieved full marks for this question. Many actually left this question blank. Very few were able to focus their response to the question.

Few pupils were able to identify the three stages of signal detection. Many students were able to identify the factors that influence detection of stimuli. However many students only focused on the stimuli being received and sent to the brain.