Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Somatosensation01:33

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.
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cross-Modal Feature Adapter for Few-Shot Human Activity Recognition.

IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics·2026
Same author

Motion prediction for leader manipulator of teleoperation system with large time delay based on inverse optimal control.

ISA transactions·2026
Same author

Dual-Modal Safety Framework for Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy via Endoscopic Vision and Haptic Feedback.

The international journal of medical robotics + computer assisted surgery : MRCAS·2026
Same author

Towards Interpretable Seizure Detection: An Excitation/Inhibition Dynamic Polynomial Network Framework for Electroencephalography.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Human-in-the-Loop Control Framework for Robot-Mediated Error Augmentation Training Based on Muscle Synergy Assessment.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society·2026
Same author

Design, Analysis, and Characterization of a Small-Scale High-Torque Magnetorheological Brake for Haptic Applications.

IEEE transactions on haptics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations
09:07

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

Published on: September 16, 2015

Discrimination and memory experiments on haptic perception of softness.

Jia Liu1, Aiguo Song

  • 1School of Instrument Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|May 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Humans can better identify soft objects than hard ones. The study found a stiffness difference threshold of 33 N/m and a haptic memory span of 3-4 items for fingertip perception.

More Related Videos

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms
08:05

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms

Published on: February 10, 2016

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator (TSPAS)
04:40

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator (TSPAS)

Published on: July 30, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations
09:07

Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

Published on: September 16, 2015

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms
08:05

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms

Published on: February 10, 2016

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator (TSPAS)
04:40

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator (TSPAS)

Published on: July 30, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Human Perception
  • Haptics
  • Psychophysics

Background:

  • Understanding the human fingertip's sensory capabilities is crucial for advancements in robotics and human-computer interaction.
  • Previous research has explored tactile discrimination, but detailed analysis of softness perception and haptic memory is ongoing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the human fingertip's ability to discriminate between different levels of softness and its capacity for haptic memory.
  • To quantify the difference threshold for stiffness perception and determine the haptic memory span.

Main Methods:

  • A laboratory-developed device was used to assess softness perception and memory.
  • The method of constant stimuli was employed to measure the stiffness difference threshold.
  • Recall experiments were conducted to evaluate the haptic memory span.

Main Results:

  • Soft objects were found to be more easily identified than hard objects.
  • The average stiffness difference threshold for haptic perception was 33 N/m, with most individuals falling between 20 N/m and 40 N/m.
  • The human haptic memory span was determined to be between three and four items.

Conclusions:

  • The human fingertip demonstrates a notable ability to discriminate softness and retain haptic information.
  • The quantified stiffness difference threshold and memory span provide valuable data for designing tactile interfaces and understanding sensory limitations.