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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.
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System01:11

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe)
07:54

Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe)

Published on: September 8, 2015

Somatosensation assessment using the NIH Toolbox.

Winnie Dunn1, James W Griffith, M Tracy Morrison

  • 1University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA. wdunn@kumc.edu

Neurology
|March 13, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study assessed somatosensation measures for the NIH Toolbox, evaluating kinesthesia, pain, and tactile discrimination across the lifespan in 409 participants.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe)
07:54

Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe)

Published on: September 8, 2015

A Protocol of Manual Tests to Measure Sensation and Pain in Humans
07:28

A Protocol of Manual Tests to Measure Sensation and Pain in Humans

Published on: December 19, 2016

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects
13:21

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects

Published on: January 14, 2009

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology
  • Psychometrics

Background:

  • Somatosensation, including touch, is a key sensory function.
  • The NIH Toolbox is a comprehensive assessment battery for human functions.
  • Evaluating sensory measures is crucial for the NIH Toolbox's utility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate methods for inclusion in the NIH Toolbox main battery.
  • To assess somatosensory functions including kinesthesia, pain, and tactile discrimination.
  • To analyze these measures across the lifespan.

Main Methods:

  • Convenience sampling of 409 participants.
  • Evaluation of kinesthesia, pain, and tactile discrimination.
  • Analysis of data across different age groups.

Main Results:

  • Presented results on somatosensory measures.
  • Data analyzed across the lifespan.
  • Identified measures suitable for the NIH Toolbox.

Conclusions:

  • Somatosensation measures are vital components of the NIH Toolbox.
  • Results inform future use of the NIH Toolbox and its sensory measures.
  • Cross-lifespan data provides normative insights.