Articles tagged with Tactile Perception
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.
Researchers have developed a new method to create an artificial sense of touch through direct brain stimulation, which could lead to the development of advanced prosthetic limbs. The study, led by Sliman Bensmaia, has identified key characteristics of electrical signals that trigger specific sensations in the brain.
Researchers found that four-month-old infants can correctly identify the source of a tickle on their feet, but six-month-olds cannot. This suggests that human babies perceive touches solely on their bodies before developing a sense of touch in external space.
Researchers found that the brain processes motion from both visual and tactile inputs using similar computations, integrating information from individual neurons with a small perspective of the object. This common representation of motion can be seen in experiments using plaid stimuli presented visually or tactilely.
Researchers explore new approaches to designing prosthetic hands with sensory feedback. Emerging techniques, such as nerve interfaces and targeted muscle reinnervation, show promise in providing sensation and improving control of hand prostheses.
A two-stage brain circuit is essential for tactile sensation, involving communication between the skin and brain. Mice were rendered unable to sense floor textures when their inner circuit was disabled, highlighting the critical role of this neural pathway in touch perception.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a device that stimulates nerves in the upper arm and forearm to transmit sensory signals to the brain, enabling users to feel hot and cold and the sense of touch through their prosthetic hands. The team plans to test the device on nonhuman primates to determine its effect...
Researchers found that bats use a unique array of sensory receptors in their wings to provide feedback during flight. The bat wing's distinct sensory circuitry allows for rapid adjustments in wing position, optimizing flight control.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University discovered that bat wings have highly sensitive touch sensors that respond to airflow changes, allowing for precise flight control. This finding can inform the development of more agile air vehicles.
Researchers have identified ducks as an ideal model organism to study the cellular mechanisms of mechanosensation, a complex process involving sensory neurons. The study reveals that ducks have highly specialized trigeminal ganglion neurons that are capable of converting force into excitation more efficiently than other birds and mammals.
Researchers are finalizing contract negotiations for a $4.4 million grant to speed development of a mobile system amputees can use anywhere, enabling them to touch and feel things out in the community. The team aims to have a product people can take home and use daily within five years.
Researchers found that the brain encodes part of the information at very fast time scales, with pulses transmitted over tens of milliseconds, and another part at slower timescales. The study demonstrated a new 'spike timing code' on a millisecond scale, complementing the existing 'spike rate code'.
Researchers have linked specific neurons to a type of somatosensation, opening the door for a better understanding of our sense of touch. The study found that these neurons respond uniquely to certain tactile stimuli and receive direct synaptic input from other brain regions.
A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that brain cells fire more rapidly and synchronously when animals focus on touch stimuli, a step toward understanding how brains process external stimuli. The research also showed that synchronization was more important to performance than firing rate.
Researchers at TSRI have identified Piezo2 as the primary mechanoreceptor protein mediating the sense of touch in mammals. Mice lacking Piezo2 lose sensitivity to ordinary light touch but retain pain-related touch sensitivity.
A new study has shown that even the lightest fingertip touch can significantly reduce sway in people with balance issues. The research, led by the University of Birmingham, found that this phenomenon is due to a sensory weighting mechanism that combines individual sensory feedback and motion cues from a partner.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have created a prosthetic hand system that allows amputees to discern familiar sensations across their artificial hands. The system, which uses electrical stimulation, has enabled patients to regain control over their prosthetic limbs and even perform tasks like holding grapes in their mou...
A new study from Lund University reveals that both the cerebral cortex and other levels in the brain play a greater role in processing touch than previously thought, with a larger proportion of brain structures involved.
Researchers challenged the long-held principle that separate groups of nerves and receptors are responsible for distinct components of touch. They found that all types of afferents contribute to the overall sensation, regardless of specific textures or shapes. This new understanding has far-reaching implications for the study of somato...
Researchers found that neurons in human skin can process geometric data about touched objects, performing calculations similar to those done by brain neurons. This allows the skin to send more detailed information to the brain before further processing.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet find that the striatum integrates sensory input from touch, vision, and sound to guide movements. The study provides insight into the brain's processing of external input and its role in motor function and disease.
A University of Cincinnati experiment using the Enactive Torch found that visually impaired individuals can make accurate judgments about their ability to pass through narrow passages using only touch. The device emits vibrations when detecting objects, allowing users to navigate with greater ease.
Researchers at Disney Research Pittsburgh established a library of 40 feel effects matched to descriptions that designers can understand. The study aimed to provide a common vocabulary for designing haptic feedback experiences.
Researchers create systematic map of pain acuity distribution across body, revealing surprising similarities with touch sensitivity. The study uses lasers to cause pain in healthy volunteers and a rare patient lacking touch sensation, demonstrating that pain acuity does not rely on touch.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have solved a century-long puzzle by proving that Merkel cells are the initial sites for sensing touch. Their study published in Cell journal shows that gentle touch triggers action potentials in Merkel cells, mediated by the Piezo2 receptor/ion channel.
Researchers use optogenetics to study skin cells called Merkel cells, which play a crucial role in sensing fine details and textures. The discovery may lead to the development of new prosthetics and treatments for skin diseases.
Research study examines association between cognitive function and tactile, taste perceptions in elderly. Results show positive correlation between cognitive function and oral perception, suggesting decline in cognitive function is related to impaired oral perception in independently-living octogenarians.
A study by Johns Hopkins engineers used juggling to investigate how vision and the sense of touch help control limb movement, shedding light on potential treatments for neurological diseases. Adding haptic feedback improved performance, but didn't correct errors, highlighting the brain's reliance on timing information.
Researchers monitored brain activity of monkeys during planned and unplanned arm movements to understand the neural control of movement. They found that neurons go into a 'prepare-and-hold' state when anticipating movements, but not when reacting unexpectedly.
A study by Dr James Stratford and Dr Simon Park found that Bacillus mycoides responds to subtle changes in its environment, producing whirlpool-shaped structures in response to curved surfaces. The microbe's ability to respond to force could signal potential useful scientific applications.
Research in mouse whiskers reveals a surprise -- at the fine scale, the sensory system's wiring diagram doesn't have a set pattern. The results highlight a 'one-to-many, many-to-one' nerve connectivity strategy that allows for a large repertoire of textures and forms.
A small, wireless capsule has been developed to restore surgeons' sense of touch in minimally invasive surgeries. The system provides haptic feedback, allowing surgeons to feel pressure and tissue stiffness on a computer screen or with a commercially available 'haptic glove'.
Research suggests that slow tactile stimulation can increase brain's ability to construct body ownership and create a healthy sense of self. The study found that participants who received synchronized slow touch believed the rubber hand belonged to them more than those who received faster neutral touch.
Disney Research creates an algorithm that artificially stretches skin on a finger, fooling the brain into perceiving a 3D bump. The algorithm enhances visual artifacts with dynamic tactile feedback, enriching user experiences.
UltraHaptics allows users to experience multi-point haptic feedback above an interactive surface without touching a device. The system projects tactile sensations through a screen and directly onto the user's hands using ultrasonic vibrations.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has discovered that two sets of nerve receptors in the skin convey information about fine textures through vibrations. This finding suggests that humans can discriminate between different fine textures, such as silk and satin, through these subtle vibrations.
Researchers found that adapting to a face explored by touch shifts visual face perception, and the effect works both ways. This study challenges traditional views on face processing, suggesting a shared representation between vision and haptics in the brain.
Researchers found that tactile and motor neurons respond to visual cues, allowing for dynamic processing of the brain's internal spatial image. This discovery has implications for paralyzed individuals using neuroprosthetic limbs, suggesting a more integrated brain-body experience.
Research from Monell Center reveals that carbonation's bite comes from the conversion of free carbon dioxide into carbonic acid in the mouth. Bubbles enhance this sensation through stimulation of the sense of touch.
Researchers found that rats' sniffing and whisking movements are synchronized even when running at different frequencies. This synchronization allows for efficient multisensory integration, which is crucial for decisions like locating food.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a brain prosthetic that allows rats to sense infrared light as a tactile sensation, enabling them to navigate virtual environments and recognize textures. This breakthrough could lead to the development of neural prosthetics for quadriplegics to regain sensory perception.
Researchers found that brain insufficiently processes sensory information, affecting learning. Alpha waves in EEG indicate brain readiness to exploit new information.
Researchers train honey bees to associate textured surfaces with sugar water, allowing them to analyze how antennal movement corresponds to tactile pattern recognition. The study provides insight into the complex behavior of honey bees and their use of active motion for sensory information.
A study by Sliman Bensmaia and colleagues found that the timing and frequency of vibrations in the skin transmit specific messages about texture to the brain, similar to how sound is perceived. This new understanding has implications for simulating tactile sensations, such as haptic rendering and prosthetic technology.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center discovered that specific sensory neurons play a crucial role in the perception of touch in fruit fly larvae. These neurons, characterized by thin spikes and dynamic filopodia structures, are sensitive to force and trigger responses when activated.
Researchers at Disney Research have developed a new technology called REVEL that can create the illusion of changing textures in augmented reality. This technology uses reverse electrovibration to manipulate the user's tactile feedback, opening up new possibilities for interactive displays and haptic feedback.
A new sensory substitution device called EyeMusic has been developed to assist the visually impaired in performing daily activities. The device uses pleasant musical tones and scales to convey visual information, allowing individuals to make fast and accurate movements without sight.
Neuroscientists at Caltech found that the primary somatosensory cortex processes both physical and emotional aspects of touch, with brain activity reflecting emotional significance even before actual contact. This finding has implications for understanding autism, sexual abuse, and physical trauma.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that touch sensitivity is hereditary and linked to genetic mechanisms that support hearing. The research found a strong correlation between touch and hearing acuity in healthy human populations, suggesting that a single mutation may impair both senses.
A recent study discovered a common genetic basis for touch and hearing, revealing that gene mutations affecting one sense can also impair the other. The research found that patients with Usher syndrome, a hereditary form of deafness, often experience impaired touch sensitivity due to a specific gene mutation.
A new Android app, developed by Vanderbilt University graduate student Jenna Gorlewicz, assists visually impaired high school students in mastering algebra and other STEM subjects using haptic technology. The app vibrates or generates tones when the student's fingertip touches a line, curve, or shape on the screen.
MDC researchers have identified a crucial function of the c-Maf gene in the development of neurons responsible for mechanosensory function. In mice with deleted c-Maf, high-frequency vibrations are not detected, leading to impaired touch sensation and early-onset cataracts.
Researchers found that listening to sentences with textural metaphors activates the parietal operculum, a region associated with sensing texture through touch. This suggests that our brains use sensory experiences to understand metaphorical language.
Researchers found that people with DFNA2 hearing loss are more sensitive to low-frequency vibrations, suggesting a link between the potassium channel and touch sensation. This discovery reveals new insights into the relationships between hearing loss and touch sensitivity.
Researchers will develop a 'therapeutic robot' to aid people with mobility problems and create wearable sensors that allow blind individuals to perceive their environment. They will also investigate the spatial and temporal regulation of cell differentiation in tissues.
Researchers have discovered that Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by a 'disinhibited' brain, with increased excitability in both the affected and unaffected hands. The study found altered sensory perception in CRPS patients, indicating a complex role of changes in the central nervous system.
Researchers developed a glove with vibrating fingertip that enhances tactile sensitivity and motor performance. The device showed statistically significant improvements in various sensory and motor skill tasks, including texture discrimination, two-point discrimination, and grasp tests.
Researchers can now study neuronal activity in deepest layers of the cortex, gaining insights into decision-making and object perception. The technique enables measurement of spatiotemporal organization of activity in these deep layers.