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Though touch is considered a sense, anatomically speaking the sense of touch would be
characterized under the nervous system. There are billions of neurons throughout the
epidermis. The neurons are constantly "talking" to the brain via electrical
impulses. The collection of all of the neurons in the epidermis would make up the sense of
touch. When someone touches an object, such as a cd, the neurons immediately send signals
to the brain, describing the cd's surface. When the impulse arrives in the brain, it is
deciphered, and kept in the brain memory. Thus, when someone touches two things that have
the same surfaces, the brain is able to recognize that the two surfaces are similar.
The sensation of touch can be attributed to the billions of nerves running
throughout the entire body. Upon closer examination, neurons will be identified as the key
aspect in the sensation of touch. The process by which neurons transmit their electrical
or chemical impulse is through the process of polarization. Polarization is comprised up
of a number of changes within the chemical balances within the neuron as well as an
electrical impulse being transmitted through a neuron axon (see the "Nervous
System" page). Within the neuron is a chemical balance between the element sodium as
well as potassium. Through the process of polarization, an exchange between positive and
negative ions takes place within the neuron. This process helps generate an electrical
signal, which is transmitted through the neuron's axon, to another neuron. This continues
through billions of neurons constituting an electrical signal, and producing the sensation
of touch.

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