Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator TSPAS
Published on: July 30, 2020
Friction and neuroimaging of active and passive tactile touch
Xue Zhou1,2, Yiyuan Li3, Yu Tian1
1State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Two types of exploratory touch including active sliding and passive sliding are usually encountered in the daily life. The friction behavior of the human finger against the surface of objects is important in tactile perception. The neural mechanisms correlating to tribological behavior are not fully understood. This study investigated the tactile response of active and passive finger friction characterized with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The friction test and fNIRS test were performed simultaneously using the tactile stimulus of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) specimens. Results showed that the sliding modes did not obviously influence the friction property of skin. While three cortex regions were activated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), showing a higher activation level of passive sliding. This revealed that the tribological performance was not a simple parameter to affect tactile perception, and the difference in cortical hemodynamic activity of active and passive touch was also recognised. The movement-related blood flow changes revealed the role of PFC in integrating tactile sensation although there was no estimation task on roughness perception.
Related Concept Videos
Characteristics of Dry Friction
Before the wheelbarrow starts moving, the static frictional force acts tangentially to the contact surface, opposing the force that is about to induce the motion. This frictional force prevents the...
Somatosensation
Tactile and Chemical Senses
Frictional Force
Static and Kinetic Frictional Force
However, if two systems are in contact and are stationary relative to one...
Kinetic Friction

