Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Measurement of Vibration Detection Threshold and Tactile Spatial Acuity in Human Subjects
Published on: September 1, 2016
How we feel: ion channel partnerships that detect mechanical inputs and give rise to touch and pain perception
Shana L Geffeney1, Miriam B Goodman
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Every moment of every day, our skin and its embedded sensory neurons are bombarded with mechanical cues that we experience as pleasant or painful. Knowing the difference between innocuous and noxious mechanical stimuli is critical for survival and relies on the function of mechanoreceptor neurons that vary in their size, shape, and sensitivity. Their function is poorly understood at the molecular level. This review emphasizes the importance of integrating analysis at the molecular and cellular levels and focuses on the discovery of ion channel proteins coexpressed in the mechanoreceptors of worms, flies, and mice.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Sensory Functions of the Skin
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
Thermosensation
Nociception
Tactile and Chemical Senses

