Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026
07:54
Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test HASTe
Published on: September 8, 2015
9.6K
Analysis of haptic information in the cerebral cortex
1Departments of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine and Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia krish.sathian@emory.edu.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|July 22, 2016
Summary
This review explores how the brain processes object properties through touch. Key brain pathways and areas involved in haptic perception, including texture, shape, and orientation, are detailed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Processing
Background:
- Haptic sensing provides crucial object information.
- Understanding its cortical processing is key to sensory neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on haptic property processing in primate and human cerebral cortex.
- To outline distinct pathways for tactile information segregation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on somatosensory cortex processing.
- Analysis of segregated pathways for texture, location, shape, and orientation.
Main Results:
- Haptic information segregates into ventral (texture) and dorsal (location) pathways.
- Shape and orientation processing involve multiple cortical areas, including multisensory regions.
- Tactile spatial acuity relies on integrated sensory and attentional networks.
Conclusions:
- Cortical processing of haptic object properties is distributed and multisensory.
- Further research is needed to elucidate network-level interactions between brain regions.
Related Concept Videos
01:33Somatosensation
44.8K
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.
44.8K
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
3.6K
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...
3.6K
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
8.8K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
8.8K
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
2.9K
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
2.9K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.3K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
10.3K
01:11Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
11.8K
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...
11.8K