afference

English

Etymology

Adjective form of afferent, from French afférent (“which brings inward”), from Latin afferent-, from afferēns, present participle of afferre (“bring to”), from af- (variant of ad-) + ferre (“bear”). Doublet of afferentia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæfəɹəns/

Noun

afference (countable and uncountable, plural afferences)

1. (biology) The brain’s reception of signals from the body.
   • 1984, Oliver Sacks, “The Disembodied Lady”, chapter 3 in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (Reset 2007), page 53:

     Christina had lost this normal inflow, this afference, had lost her normal proprioceptive vocal tone and posture, and therefore had to use her ears, auditory feedback, instead.

Derived terms

• exafference
• reafference

 

Related terms

• afferent
• deafferentiation

Translations

brain’s reception of signals from the body

• Portuguese: aferência f