Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

19:44
A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator (TAPS)
Published on: June 2, 2009
Tactile shape processing
1Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, H3A 1B1, Quebec, Montreal, Canada.
Neuron
|August 15, 2001
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals brain areas for tactile shape perception. Differences in stimuli properties correlate with cortical activation, mapping tactile processing in the somatosensory network.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Sensory Neuroscience
Background:
- Neuroimaging techniques offer potential for identifying brain regions engaged in tactile shape perception.
- Understanding the neural basis of tactile perception is crucial for various neurological and rehabilitation applications.
Discussion:
- This study explores the relationship between tactile stimulus properties and cortical activation patterns.
- Investigating how the somatosensory network processes tactile information provides insights into sensory integration.
Key Insights:
- Differences in tactile stimulus characteristics are linked to distinct areas of cortical activation.
- Cortical activation patterns can elucidate the functional organization of the somatosensory network in tactile processing.
Outlook:
- Further research can refine neuroimaging methods for detailed mapping of tactile perception.
- This work lays the foundation for future studies on tactile sensory processing and its clinical implications.
Related Concept Videos
Somatosensation
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Design Example: Resistive Touchscreen
A device engineer plays a crucial role in designing user interfaces for mobile devices. One such interface is the resistive touchscreen, which fundamentally consists of two metallic layers: a flexible upper layer and a rigid lower layer, separated by a narrow gap. The high resistance between these two layers is a key characteristic of this design.
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate
Aggregate shape is classified based on the relative sharpness or roundness of the edges and corners. This classification includes categories like rounded, angular, elongated, and flaky, each with specific characteristics. Rounded aggregates, fully shaped by attrition, are typical of river or seashore gravel, while angular aggregates, such as crushed rock, have well-defined edges. Aggregates that are elongated and flaky are less desirable, as they can reduce the workability and strength of...
Tactile and Chemical Senses
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...
Gestalt Principles of Perception
Gestalt principles provide a framework for understanding how humans perceive objects as unified wholes within their context. These principles are essential in explaining the cognitive processes that make sense of complex visual stimuli by organizing them into coherent groups. One fundamental principle is proximity, which posits that objects located close to each other are perceived as a collective group. For instance, when dots are positioned near one another, the visual system interprets them...

