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Tactile signals transmitted by the vibrissa during active whisking behavior
Lucie A Huet1, Christopher L Schroeder2, Mitra J Z Hartmann3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; and.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|April 14, 2015
Summary
Rodent whiskers generate complex 3D tactile signals during natural whisking. This study quantifies these out-of-plane bending forces, revealing crucial information lost in 2D analyses for somatosensation research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Somatosensation research
Background:
- The rodent vibrissal-trigeminal system is a key model for studying tactile perception.
- Quantifying mechanical signals during natural whisking behavior has been a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the complete set of mechanical input signals during natural whisking behavior in rats.
- To develop a model for computing 3D tactile signals at the vibrissal base during active whisking.
Main Methods:
- Observing whisking behavior in awake rats (Rattus norvegicus).
- Developing a computational model of whisker bending.
- Calculating 3D tactile signals transmitted to vibrissal mechanoreceptors.
Main Results:
- Whiskers frequently bend out of their plane of rotation during active whisking.
- Significant out-of-plane mechanical signals are generated.
- A model was developed to compute these 3D tactile signals.
Conclusions:
- Considering only 2D whisking motions can lead to a loss of critical sensory information.
- This study provides the first quantification of physical signals transmitted to vibrissal mechanoreceptors during active whisking.
- Suggestions are offered for experimentalists monitoring whisker bending direction.
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