The ways in which we perceive the world around us involves many biological processes. How we perceive the world influences our understanding of our surroundings and has a significant impact on our daily lives. However, perception would not be possible without its preceding process of sensation. Through sensation, living things are able to transmit information from external sources into our bodies. In the moments during which you are reading these words, sensory receptors, specifically photoreceptors, in your eyes are constantly accepting information. Thus, the external input from the screen is transmitted into electrical signals, which rapidly travel to the brain, where perception occurs. Understanding sensation is a crucial component of many academic disciplines.
Scientists in the realms of physiology and psychology continue to identify and analyze the large range of receptors that are involved in the transmission of sensory signals. Recently, sensory receptors have received a considerable amount of attention. On October 8, 2021, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was jointly awarded to Dr. David Julius and Dr. Ardem Patapoutian. Dr. David Julius is a professor who studied the receptors relating to the sensation of temperature and heat. His research specifically examined chili peppers and the subsequent sensations felt by humans after ingesting a spicy food item. Ultimately, he identified the TRPV1 and TRPM8 receptors, which are bound to by specific molecules, helping relay the signals to the appropriate locations in the brain. Similarly, Dr. Ardem Patapoutian conducted research on the receptors relating to pressure and touch. He did so by using small pipettes to gently press on cells and inspected the responses to the external touch. The receptors he identified are termed Piezo1 and Piezo2. The molecular analysis conducted on these receptors was made possible by using DNA libraries to identify possible genes involved in these sensory processes. It was also critical to pinpoint the proteins that are accepted by the specific receptors. For example, Dr. Julius used capsaicin, a protein found in the chili peppers, to determine the steps involved in the transduction of nerve impulses which notify the brain that the food you just ate is spicy or hot. The academic contribution of Dr. Julius and Dr. Patapoutian is incredible. The scientists independently uncovered two of the obscurities about human sensation, which helps clarify the complex ways in which our bodies process information.
The discovery of these receptors also has implications for future pharmaceutical research. These receptors, which correspond to the feeling of temperature and pressure, may also be involved in the processes that trigger the pain response in humans. Thus, these receptors may possibly be a window into treating chronic pain. This might be achieved by targeting the receptors with certain molecules or drug therapies. Thus, the discoveries of the two pioneers not only elucidated biological processes relating to our everyday sensations, they also serve as a starting point for other promising research endeavors.
Sources Used:
Mueller, B., Santora, M. and Engelbrecht, C., 2021. The Nobel Prize in Medicine recognized research on temperature and touch.. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/world/the-nobel-prize-in-medicine-recognized-research-on-temperature-and-touch.html> [Accessed 16 October 2021].
NobelPrize.org. 2021. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/press-release/> [Accessed 14 October 2021].
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