saccule

n. the smaller of the two vestibular sacs of the inner ear, the other being the utricle. Like the utricle, it contains a sensory structure called a macula. Movements of the head relative to gravity exert a momentum pressure on hair cells within the macula, which then fire impulses indicating a change in body position. —saccular adj.

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Psychology term of the day

October 18th 2024

sensory interaction

the integration of sensory processes when performing a task, as in maintaining balance using sensory input from both vision and proprioception. See also cross-modal association; intersensory perception; perceptual synthesis.