Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
05:43
Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback
Published on: May 23, 2019
5.9K
Peripheral vs. central determinants of vibrotactile adaptation
A Klöcker1, D Gueorguiev1, J L Thonnard1
1Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|November 20, 2015
Summary
Vibrotactile adaptation, a decrease in vibration perception after prolonged mechanical vibration, is primarily caused by peripheral processes in mechanoreceptors or skin properties. Central nervous system processes do not significantly contribute to this sensory adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Physiology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Vibrotactile adaptation reduces vibration perception after sustained mechanical stimulation.
- The underlying mechanisms, including peripheral and central processes, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate between peripheral and central contributions to vibrotactile adaptation.
- To investigate the role of skin mechanical impedance in adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Mechanical vibration applied to the fingertip to induce adaptation.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to bypass mechanical transduction.
- Measurement of vibrotactile and electrical detection thresholds before and after stimulation.
Main Results:
- Mechanical vibration significantly increased vibrotactile detection thresholds.
- Electrical stimulation did not induce adaptation, indicating a lack of central involvement.
- Mechanical adaptation did not affect electrical detection thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Vibrotactile adaptation is mainly driven by peripheral mechanisms, specifically mechanoreceptor changes or alterations in skin biomechanics.
- Central nervous system adaptation does not play a significant role in this phenomenon.
Related Concept Videos
01:33Somatosensation
45.5K
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.
45.5K
01:27Tactile and Chemical Senses
1.2K
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.
1.2K
01:25Factors Affecting Perception
3.1K
Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
3.1K
01:11Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
12.4K
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...
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...
12.4K
01:15Sensory Modalities
4.4K
Sensation typically is the process by which the sensory receptors and sense organs detect stimuli from the internal and external environment and transmit this information to the central nervous system for processing.
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
4.4K
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
9.4K
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
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...
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...
9.4K