Importance of temporal cues for tactile spatial- frequency discrimination

While scanning a textured surface with fingers, tactile information is encoded both spatially, by differential activation of adjacent receptors, and temporally, by changes in receptor activation during movements of the fingers across the surface. We used a tactile discrimination task to examine the...

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Vydané v:The Journal of neuroscience Ročník 21; číslo 18; s. 7416
Hlavní autori: Gamzu, E, Ahissar, E
Médium: Journal Article
Jazyk:English
Vydavateľské údaje: United States 15.09.2001
Predmet:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Choice Behavior - physiology
Cluster Analysis
Cues
Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology
Female
Fingers - innervation
Fingers - physiology
Gloves, Protective
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Movement - physiology
Pressure
Sensory Deprivation - physiology
Sensory Thresholds - physiology
Surface Properties
Time Factors
Touch - physiology
ISSN:1529-2401, 1529-2401
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Shrnutí:While scanning a textured surface with fingers, tactile information is encoded both spatially, by differential activation of adjacent receptors, and temporally, by changes in receptor activation during movements of the fingers across the surface. We used a tactile discrimination task to examine the dependence of human tactile perception on the availability of spatial and temporal cues. Subjects discriminated between spatial frequencies of metal gratings presented simultaneously to both hands. Tactile temporal cues were eliminated by preventing lateral hand movements; tactile spatial cues were eliminated by using gloves with an attached rubber pin. Analysis revealed separation of the subjects into two groups: "spatiotemporal" (ST) and "latent-temporal" (LT). Under normal conditions, the performance of ST subjects was significantly better than that of the LT subjects. Prevention of lateral movements impaired performance of both ST and LT subjects. However, when only temporal cues were available, the performance of ST subjects was significantly impaired, whereas that of the LT subjects either improved or did not change. Under the latter condition, LT subjects changed strategy to scanning with alternating hands, at velocities similar to the velocities normally used by ST subjects. These velocities generated temporal frequencies between 15 and 30 Hz. The LT subjects were unaware of their improved performance. Nine of ten LT subjects significantly improved their performance under normal conditions when trained to scan gratings using alternating hands and velocities similar to those used by ST subjects. We conclude that (1) temporal cues are essential for spatial-frequency discrimination, (2) human subjects vary in the tactile strategies they use for texture exploration, and (3) poor tactile performers can significantly improve by using strategies that emphasize temporal cues.
Bibliografia:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:1529-2401
1529-2401
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-18-07416.2001