Mechano-neurophysiological model of the fingertip for spatiotemporal firing pattern prediction of SA1 mechanoreceptors during embossed letter scanning

Toru Hamasaki,Daisuke Yamada

doi:10.1177/1687814020984651

Abstract

Numerical simulation can be used to observe spatiotemporal firing responses of tactile receptors during dynamic tactile exploration, and it provides a more understanding of the mechanism of tactile perception. In this study, we developed an improved mechano-neurophysiological model of the fingertip that employs a realistic fingertip structure and accurate contact mechanics while scanning embossed letters. To confirm the potential of the model, we simulated the spatiotemporal firing patterns of slowly adapting type-1 (SA1) mechanoreceptors while scanning the embossed letter “G” and compared the simulation result with the existing experimental data in neurophysiology. Although the experimental data were reconstructed from a single nerve fiber, the simulation simultaneously observed the responses of multiple SA1 receptors, which resulted in a more obscure “G” spatiotemporal firing pattern than that in the previous experiment. This result supports existing data from another psychophysical experiment that demonstrates that it is harder to recognize embossed letter “G” accurately during letter scanning. This finding suggests that the spatiotemporal firing pattern from multiple SA1 receptors may show an obscure “G” pattern while scanning the embossed letter “G”.

Highlights

Human beings perceive the shape and roughness of an object by grazing their fingers over textured surfaces
Previous studies[1,2,3,4,5] have developed numerical simulation models to predict the responses of tactile receptors for a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of tactile perception
This study focuses on the slowly adapting type-1 (SA1) tactile receptor because of its prominent role in spatial perception.[7]

Summary

Introduction

Human beings perceive the shape and roughness of an object by grazing their fingers over textured surfaces. This tactile perception is provided by neural signals from the responses of tactile mechanoreceptors during the dynamic exploration. The numerical simulation of this spatiotemporal firing response leads to a more quantitative understanding of the underlying mechanisms of tactile perception. The quantitative understanding will contribute to the development of advanced haptic technology and bionic medical prostheses. Previous studies[1,2,3,4,5] have developed numerical simulation models to predict the responses of tactile receptors for a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of tactile perception. In one of the approaches for the simulation, mechanical states

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Methods

Discussion

Conclusion