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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.
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
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...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers01:16

Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers

The muscles of the forearm that move the wrist, hand, and digits are numerous and diverse. They can be classified into two groups based on their location and function — the anterior and posterior compartment muscles.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

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

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator (TSPAS)

Published on: July 30, 2020

Tactile localization on digits and hand: structure and development.

Takashi Yoshioka1, Moira R Dillon, Graham C Beck

  • 11Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute.

Psychological Science
|August 3, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tactile localization in the hand develops significantly from childhood to adolescence in typically developing individuals. People with Williams syndrome (WS) exhibit persistent tactile localization deficits, similar to young children, indicating a genetic influence on this somatosensory ability.

Keywords:
Williams syndromedevelopmental disordersparietal lobespatial perceptionvisual-spatial ability

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Last Updated: May 9, 2026

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

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator (TSPAS)

Published on: July 30, 2020

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Estimation of Contact Regions Between Hands and Objects During Human Multi-Digit Grasping

Published on: April 21, 2023

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Tactile localization to the hand and digits is crucial for somatosensory perception.
  • The developmental trajectory and genetic underpinnings of human tactile localization remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental course of tactile localization in typically developing humans.
  • To examine tactile localization abilities in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic disorder affecting visual-spatial skills.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed tactile stimulus localization in normally developing children, adolescents, and adults.
  • Evaluated tactile localization in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS).

Main Results:

  • Four-year-olds showed significant errors but a structured hand representation; errors decreased exponentially with age in typically developing individuals, reaching adult levels by adolescence.
  • Individuals with WS exhibited persistent, large localization errors and frequent cross-digit errors, irrespective of age, mirroring the performance of 4-year-olds.

Conclusions:

  • Tactile localization reflects early hand organization in typical development.
  • Significant developmental changes in tactile localization occur during childhood and adolescence.
  • Genetic deficits, such as in Williams syndrome, can impair tactile localization development without disrupting underlying organizational principles.