Articles tagged with Tactile Perception
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Two studies investigate perceptual decision making in rats and humans, showing that the brain compares incoming sensory evidence to express a decision as soon as it reaches a fixed boundary. The findings support the 'bounded integration' model, which explains how the nervous system accumulates information over time.
A new study from York University found that children with more years of sport experience recover better from concussions and have quicker motor skill recovery times than those with fewer years of experience. This suggests that playing sports for longer periods may provide a protective effect against future concussions.
A team of researchers found that people differ substantially in how they perceive roughness, with different relationships between skin vibrations, friction, and grain size. The study aims to understand individual differences in tactile sensation and develop an estimation model for perceptual roughness ratings.
Scientists at Yale University investigate the mechanics of touch by studying the sensitive skin on ducks' bills, finding similarities with human palms. They identify the Piezo2 molecule as crucial for touch sensation, with duck bill skin allowing more ions to enter neurons than mouse paw skin.
A new study from Linköping University found that the brain reduces sensory perception when touched by oneself, and this difference arises as early as in the spinal cord. This phenomenon suggests that the brain attempts to predict sensory consequences of one's actions, assigning less importance to self-generated sensations.
Researchers discovered significant differences in neural processing between self-touch and touch from others at the cortical and spinal cord levels. This finding has implications for understanding perception and social behavior, highlighting the brain's unique response to self-produced versus external tactile input.
A study found that auditory stimulation affects responses to tactile stimulation in mice and rats, highlighting the interconnectedness of senses. The findings suggest that the barrel cortex, which processes touch, also treats auditory stimuli separately, leading to enhanced detection of prey or predators in nocturnal animals.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed an electronic glove with sensors that can detect pressure intensity and direction, allowing a robotic hand to perform tasks like lifting eggs and handling delicate objects without crushing them. The technology has potential applications in robot-assisted surgery and other fields where p...
Researchers at University College London have developed a new method to study facial somatosensation in newborns using electroencephalography (EEG). The study found that brain responses to touch on the face are present from birth and can help medical professionals make informed decisions about premature babies' development.
Osaka University scientists created a new approach to pressure distribution measurement using universal tactile imaging technology. The sensors have no need for pressure-sensitive materials and are simpler to manufacture, making them suitable for various applications including robotics and surgical medicine.
Researchers have long believed cell membranes act like a viscous liquid, but a new study suggests they are closer to a semi-solid like Jell-O. The discovery was made by Harvard University scientists who used fluorescent protein and mechanical actuators to measure membrane tension.
A study published in Nature Scientific Reports found that our sense of touch provides a sense of certainty and gives us a tighter grip on reality when faced with ambiguous information. This is contrary to the assumption that touch has no intrinsic superiority over other senses.
Researchers discovered that activating Piezo2-expressing neurons induces painful sensations in mice and that rodents deficient in Piezo2 do not register pain in response to soft touches. Blocking Piezo2 function may prevent allodynia without affecting normal pain responses.
Researchers identified PIEZO2 as a gene controlling tactile allodynia, a form of pain caused by gentle touch after injury. The study found that PIEZO2 plays an essential role in the nervous system's reaction to injury and inflammation, making it a target for developing precise treatments for relieving painful skin injuries.
Researchers found that re-engaging the brain immediately after injury can help recover from brain damage or stroke faster. The study suggests that other primitive brain regions may be involved in touch perception and that patients could benefit from earlier reintroduction to activities.
Amputees can be tricked into feeling their prosthetic limb belongs to their own body by combining visual and tactile sensations. The study used virtual reality goggles and artificial tactile sensations to induce embodiment, reducing phantom limb issues.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed an electronic 'skin' called e-dermis that recreates a sense of touch through prosthetic fingertips. The device enables amputees to perceive sensations such as pain and sharpness, improving prosthetic limb functionality.
Hongdian Yang, a UC Riverside assistant professor, has received the prestigious Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award to advance his research on neuromodulation of tactile perception. The award will support his investigation into the noradrenergic system's role in modulating touch perception and its potential implications for understand...
Stanford researchers have developed an artificial sensory nerve system that can activate twitch reflexes in cockroaches and identify Braille letters. The system integrates a touch sensor, flexible electronic neuron, and synaptic transistor to mimic human synapses.
Researchers have discovered a previously overlooked connection between neurons in two distinct areas of the mammalian brain that control the sense of touch. In mice, layer 4 neurons in the S2 region extended their axons beyond their local area to reach neurons in the S1 region, suggesting a link between movement and sensation.
Researchers at Saarland University have developed a new type of sensor called Multi-Touch Skin, which can capture touches on the body with precision, even from multiple fingers. The sensors are printed using a household inkjet printer and can be designed to fit any shape, enabling new applications for interaction designers.
Researchers found that angular shapes increased customer satisfaction when businesses were busy, while circular shapes focused attention on server warmth and friendliness. This study explores the impact of shape on consumer response in service industries, offering insights for businesses to maximize customer satisfaction through design.
The researchers created a new method for changing the way buttons are activated, called Impact Activation, which was found to be 94% more precise in rapid tapping than regular activation methods. The technique can help gamers and musicians improve their speed and rhythm.
Researchers have discovered that Piezo channels are highly sensitive to changes in membrane voltage, which helps cells protect themselves from mechanical overstimulation. This mechanism has been found to exist in humans, mice, flies, and fish, and is even more pronounced in older species.
Researchers used brain imaging techniques to study how infants process touch, finding that 7-month-old babies have a basic connection between 'self' and 'other.' This connection allows them to imitate and learn from others, and eventually develop empathy.
Researchers at UC San Diego tested human subjects' ability to distinguish between smooth silicon wafers with different topmost layers of molecules. Human subjects could correctly identify the differences 71% of the time, thanks to a phenomenon known as stick-slip friction.
New research finds that advertisements highlighting more proximal sensory experiences (touch/taste) lead to earlier purchases, while those emphasizing distal sensory experiences (sight/sound) delay them. This study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, suggests new ways for marketers to differentiate their products and services.
Researchers at UC Berkeley reconstructed a mouse's whisker map of its surroundings, revealing a new layer of spatial awareness. This discovery may have implications for understanding how humans perceive space and navigate their environment.
A computer model developed by neuroscientists at the University of Chicago can simulate the entire nerve response of the hand to any pattern of touch stimulation, providing insights into how the nervous system perceives touch. This tool will enable scientists to create realistic touch sensations in bionic hands for amputees.
Early human ancestors may have been able to exploit the forest canopy for resources by using a 'light touch strategy', improving their balance in simulated arboreal environment by up to 30%.
Electrick, a low-cost touch sensing technology, can turn objects of almost any shape into touchpads. The system uses electric field tomography to sense finger touches and detect locations with an accuracy of one centimeter.
The star-nosed mole possesses an extremely efficient nervous system that enables it to identify and eat food in under 2 seconds. Its distinctive star organ contains over 100,000 nerve fibers, making it the most sensitive known touch organ in any mammal.
Scientists have identified nerve cells in the skin of genetically engineered mice that sense both touch and motion, enabling active perception of the environment. This discovery advances the search for better prosthetics with natural sensory feedback for people.
Researchers developed a new method to measure brain health by analyzing neural networks' responses to artificial touch experiences provided by a finger prosthesis. The technique offers precise insights into the cooperation between neurons and can reflect the entire brain's health, providing potential breakthroughs in neurological disea...
Researchers found that preterm babies' brain responses to gentle touch are reduced compared to full-term infants. Positive touch experiences in the NICU enhance brain response to touch, while painful procedures can affect sensory development.
Researchers discovered bumblebees can recognize scents left by family members, sisters, and unrelated individuals. This ability helps them remember visited flowers and make informed decisions about food sources.
UD researchers identified 45 students with MTS, showing a unique brain processing pattern. The study found that the brain matches the video hand to their own hand, suggesting hyperactive somatosensory networks.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered that lipid rafts on cell surfaces act as compartments to keep enzymes from mixing with their binding partners. Disrupting these rafts through touch triggers a signal that communicates the touch to responsive proteins in the cell.
Researchers found that hearing metaphors involving arms or legs activates the left extrastriate body area (EBA) in the brain, which is responsible for visual perception of those body parts. This finding supports the concept of grounded cognition, where comprehension of abstract concepts is built upon concrete experiences.
Researchers identified a substance called OB-1 that suppresses neuropathic pain caused by nerve injuries or diabetes without affecting other sensations. The compound tunes down the ion channel responsible for mechanical hypersensitivity, providing a new strategy for treating painful conditions.
Researchers at TSRI have found that Piezo 1 directly senses force by detecting tension in the cell membrane. This breakthrough has significant implications for designing better pain medications and exploring future therapies for hypertension, hemophilia, and other diseases.
Researchers investigated how hawkmoths integrate visual and tactile cues to track flowers, revealing a simple additive model for signal combination. The study suggests that the sense of touch plays a greater role in tracking behavior, but both senses are used to follow the flower.
Researchers have successfully provided basic sensory feedback through artificial electrical signals to enable a patient to control movement while performing a simple task. The study aims to develop closed-loop brain-computer interfaces that enable two-way communication between parts of the nervous system.
Researchers have found a way to produce realistic sensations of touch in two human amputees by directly stimulating the nervous system. The study verifies earlier research on how the nervous system encodes intensity and determines perceived sensation through activation charge rate.
A new study explores the neural decoding of touch intensity in amputee patients, revealing that activation charge rate controls perceived sensation magnitude. This finding could lead to improved artificial touch in next-generation neuroprosthetics.
Researchers have developed a system that enables amputees to feel a range of intensity levels on their prosthetic hands, allowing them to hold objects, operate machinery, and interact with others. The system uses electrical stimulation to mimic natural touch, decoding the intensity of pressure in the nervous system.
A brain implant has restored touch in a paralyzed man's hand, allowing him to sense sensations like warmth and pressure from his fingers. The study suggests that electrical brain stimulation can reestablish realistic touch in paralyzed patients, guiding the design of better neuroprosthetic limbs.
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism by which Merkel cells in the skin transmit sensory information to nerve endings, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating conditions like diabetes, cancer treatment, and fibromyalgia. This understanding may also enable preventive care for these patients.
Researchers from Hiroshima University have developed a small vibrating device that attaches to surgical tools, enhancing surgeons' sensitivity to different shapes and textures. The PZT Actuator boosts the sensation to a noticeable level, allowing doctors to detect tissue texture and identify solid tumors with greater accuracy.
A paralyzed chimpanzee, Reo, was rehabilitated through a dedicated programme using cognitive tasks on a touch screen. After 41 months of intensive physiotherapy, he learned to walk again, showing the potential of this method in improving animal welfare.
A new mouse study suggests that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may be linked to defects in peripheral nerves, rather than just the brain. The research found that mice with ASD-associated gene mutations exhibited abnormal touch sensitivity and anxiety-like behavior.
Researchers found that individuals with schizophrenia have impaired ability to process visual and touch stimuli, leading to distorted perception of reality. The study's findings suggest a new way to identify the disease at an early stage, potentially allowing for earlier intervention.
Carnegie Mellon researchers have developed SkinTrack technology that converts the entire lower arm into a touchpad, providing continuous touch tracking and discrete location detection. The system allows for functionality similar to buttons or slider controls, while maintaining high accuracy.
Researchers at Aalto University propose a new theory explaining why touchscreens are less accurate for gaming due to finger movement and latency. By registering touch events at maximum contact area, performance can be improved significantly.
A study by Aparna Sundar of the University of Oregon found that consumers are less likely to accept sensory mismatches from sincere brands, but can tolerate them from exciting brands. The research suggests that marketers should consider how sensory innovation aids their brand narrative.
A new study by Bielefeld University's CITEC researchers reveals that the human brain can be fooled into perceiving a larger displacement of the index finger when it actually remains stationary, due to changes in contact area with the skin. This finding has implications for developing virtual sense of touch technologies.
Researchers at UCSB have cataloged patterns of vibration in the skin of the entire hand for the first time, enabling a greater understanding of how we sense the world through touch. These vibrations, which travel beyond the tips of the fingers, provide rich tactile information that helps us identify and navigate our surroundings.
A recent study found that sensory loss is a common issue among older adults, affecting 94 percent of those in the US. The most prevalent deficit was decreased sense of taste, with 48% of participants rated as poor. Understanding the underlying causes and developing prevention strategies are crucial for improving quality of life.
Researchers have discovered that pectoral fins in fish possess neurons and cells sensitive to touch, conveying information about pressure and motion. This finding sheds light on the evolutionary biology of touch and may inspire new advances in underwater robotics design.
Using optogenetics and other technology, researchers have for the first time precisely manipulated this bursting activity of the thalamus, tying it to the sense of touch. The work reveals that cells in the thalamus detect potential threats and quickly focus on life-or-death decisions before switching to detailed analytical processing.