Swept period grating stimuli applied to cutaneous receptors

Grating stimuli with successively larger integrate periods (also known as "swept period") are described and characterized. Since the swept period gratings are used to study the temporal frequency response functions of cutaneous receptors, a stimulator that can be used to draw these stimuli over the surface of the skin with precisely controlled motion is also described. The use of a swept period grating stimulus is illustrated for the specific case of stimulating a cat, hairy skin, slowly adapting Type I mechanoreceptor.