Exteroceptive Sensations Research Articles

Cardiac afferent signals can facilitate visual dominance in binocular rivalry

Sensory signals from the body’s visceral organs (e.g. the heart) can robustly influence the perception of exteroceptive sensations. This interoceptive–exteroceptive interaction has been argued to underlie self-awareness by situating one’s perceptual awareness of exteroceptive stimuli in the context of one’s internal state, but studies probing cardiac influences on visual awareness have yielded conflicting findings. In this study, we presented separate grating stimuli to each of subjects’ eyes as in a classic binocular rivalry paradigm – measuring the duration for which each stimulus dominates in perception. However, we caused the gratings to ‘pulse’ at specific times relative to subjects’ real-time electrocardiogram, manipulating whether pulses occurred during cardiac systole, when baroreceptors signal to the brain that the heart has contracted, or in diastole when baroreceptors are silent. The influential ‘Baroreceptor Hypothesis’ predicts the effect of baroreceptive input on visual perception should be uniformly suppressive. In contrast, we observed that dominance durations increased for systole-entrained stimuli, inconsistent with the Baroreceptor Hypothesis. Furthermore, we show that this cardiac-dependent rivalry effect is preserved in subjects who are at-chance discriminating between systole-entrained and diastole-presented stimuli in a separate interoceptive awareness task, suggesting that our results are not dependent on conscious access to heartbeat sensations.

Phenotypical characterization of exteroceptive sensation and pain symptoms on diabetic patients.

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, affecting about half of individuals with the disease. Among the various symptoms of DN, the development of chronic pain stands out and manifests as exacerbated responses to sensorial stimuli. The conventional clinical treatments used for general neuropathy and associated painful symptoms, still brings uncomplete and unsatisfactory pain relief. Patients with neuropathic pain syndromes are heterogeneous. They present with a variety of sensory symptoms and pain qualities which difficult the correct diagnosis of sensory comorbidities and consequently, the appropriate chronic pain management. Herein, we aimed to demonstrate the existence of different sensory profiles on diabetic patients by investigating epidemiological and clinical data on the symptomatology of a group of patients with DN. This is a longitudinal and observational study, with a sample of 57 volunteers diagnosed with diabetes from outpatient day clinic of Hospital Universitário of the University of São Paulo-Brazil. After being invited and signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF), patients were submitted to clinical evaluation and filled out pain and quality of life questionnaires. They also performed quantitative sensory test (QST) and underwent skin biopsy for correlation with cutaneous neuropathology. Data demonstrate that 70% of the studied sample presented some type of pain, manifesting in a neuropathic or nociceptive way, what has a negative impact on the life of patients with DM. We also demonstrated a positive association between pain and anxiety and depression, in addition to pain catastrophic thoughts. Three distinct profiles were identified in the sample, separated according to the symptoms of pain: (i) subjects without pain; (ii) with mild or moderate pain; (iii) subjects with severe pain. We also identified through skin biopsy that diabetic patients presented advanced sensory impairment, as a consequence of the degeneration of the myelinated and unmyelinated peripheral fibers. This study characterized the painful symptoms and exteroceptive sensation profile in these diabetic patients, associated to a considerable level of sensory degeneration, indicating, and reinforcing the importance of the long-term clinical monitoring of individuals diagnosed with DM, regarding their symptom profiles and exteroceptive sensitivity.

A supramolecular gel-elastomer system for soft iontronic adhesives

Electroadhesion provides a promising route to augment robotic functionalities with continuous, astrictive, and reversible adhesion force. However, the lack of suitable conductive/dielectric materials and processing capabilities have impeded the integration of electroadhesive modules into soft robots requiring both mechanical compliance and robustness. We present herein an iontronic adhesive based on a dynamically crosslinked gel-elastomer system, including an ionic organohydrogel as adhesive electrodes and a resilient polyurethane with high electrostatic energy density as dielectric layers. Through supramolecular design and synthesis, the dual-material system exhibits cohesive heterolayer bonding and autonomous self-healing from damages. Iontronic soft grippers that seamlessly integrate actuation, adhesive prehension, and exteroceptive sensation are devised via additive manufacturing. The grippers can capture soft and deformable items, bear high payload under reduced voltage input, and rapidly release foreign objects in contrast to electroadhesives. Our materials and iontronic mechanisms pave the way for future advancement in adhesive-enhanced multifunctional soft devices.

Bone Growth Stimulators for Treatment of Adults with Bone Disease or Injury


 Electrical stimulation and low intensity pulsed ultrasound technologies for bone healing may have some beneficial effects on radiographic assessment outcomes (e.g., spinal fusion rate, radiographic nonunion rates, number of days to radiographic healing) and clinical assessment outcomes (e.g., mouth opening, wrist and shoulder mobility, exteroceptive sensation, and wound healing), but may not improve outcomes that are important to patients (e.g., functional recovery). Pain may be reduced by electrical bone growth stimulation devices, but not by low intensity pulsed ultrasound.
 No adverse events (AEs) related to the low intensity pulsed ultrasound device were reported. It is unknown if there are AEs related to electrical stimulation devices (no evidence found).
 Low intensity pulsed ultrasound for treatment of fresh tibial fractures was not cost-effective compared with placebo from either a payer perspective or societal perspective within the Canadian context.
 It is unknown if electrical bone growth stimulator devices are cost-effective (no evidence found).

Spatial content of painful sensations

Philosophical considerations regarding experiential spatial content have focused on exteroceptive sensations presenting external entities, and not on interoceptive experiences that present states of our own body. A notable example is studies on interoceptive touch, in which it is argued that interoceptive tactile experiences have rich spatial content such that tactile sensations are experienced as located in a spatial field. This article investigates whether a similarly rich spatial content can be attributed to experiences of acute, cutaneous pain. It is argued that such experiences of pain do not have field‐like content, as they do not present distance relations between painful sensations.

Глагольные средства выражения восприятия «незримого» в агиографических текстах XX–XXI веков

The article focuses on the potential of perception verb usage for creating the images of saints and godliness devotees. An integrated approach was applied to studying hagiographic texts of the 20 th – 21 st centuries, which comprise the research material. Special attention is paid to the verbs that directly nominate the process of obtaining information about the surrounding world (exteroceptive sensations). The analysis also involves the verbs that are etymologically related to the verbs of perception. The author introduces the structure of meaning of the verbs denoting perception and their corresponding subdivision into subgroups. The verbs employed in the description of the saints' and ascetics' abilities to comprehend the world intuitively, to foresee the forthcoming events in the lives of people, country, and the Church are analyzed, the peculiarities of their use are revealed. The subgroups of verbs denoting these processes in the studied texts have been identified. The contextually stipulated changes in the meanings of verbs are characterized. Lexicographic sources have been used to determine the meanings, which are actualized in the texts, and those not recorded in the dictionaries. The impressive semantic potential of the analyzed verbs is demonstrated. This makes it possible to use them for nominating the outstanding abilities of saints and ascetics, which distinguish them from ordinary people.

Interoceptive accuracy and its impact on neuronal responses to olfactory stimulation in the insular cortex.

The insular cortex plays a key role in the integration of multimodal information and in interoceptive and exteroceptive processing. For instance, neurons in the central dorsal insula that are active during interoceptive tasks, also show an adaptation to gustatory stimulation. We tested the link between interoception and exteroception for the olfactory system (i.e., the second domain of chemosensation). In a sample of 31 participants, olfactory function was assessed in a two dimensional approach while the Heartbeat Perception Task served as a measurement for cardiac interoceptive accuracy. Subsequent fMRI sessions were performed on a 3‐Tesla MR scanner containing 12–15 olfactory stimulation trials with a mildly pleasant food‐related odor (coffee). Persons scoring high in the cardiac interoceptive accuracy task presented stronger smelling abilities as well as enhanced BOLD responses following olfactory stimulation. The olfactory stimulation triggered enhanced insular activation patterns in the central dorsal insular cortex. Consistent with prior findings on the coherence of gustatory and interoceptive processing in the central dorsal insula, these results base the insula as a common region for the integration of interoception and exteroception. We propose an explanatory model of how exteroception triggers the integration of intero‐ and exteroceptive sensations in the central dorsal insular cortex.

Beneficial Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field during Cast Immobilization in Patients with Distal Radius Fracture.

To assess whether pulsed electromagnetic field therapy during cast immobilization of distal radius fractures has beneficial effects on pain and limb function, the study included 52 patients (mean age 60.8 ± 15.0 years) with distal radius fractures treated with cast immobilization. Patients were allocated to a pulsed electromagnetic field group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 25). Pain; forearm and arm circumference; range of motion; disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score; and touch sensation were evaluated on the day of the plaster cast dressing and 3 and 6 weeks after. In comparison to the control group, the pulsed electromagnetic field group reported significant changes after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment: lower pain levels (p=0.0052; p < 0.0001, respectively), greater mobility of upper-limb joints, improvement in exteroceptive sensation, and reduction in disability of the upper limb (disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand) (p=0.0003; p < 0.0001, respectively). Our results suggest that early addition of pulsed electromagnetic field treatment, during cast immobilization of distal radius fractures, has beneficial effects on the pain, exteroceptive sensation, range of motion, and daily functioning of patients.

Categorization of bodily sensations in psychodermatological disorders

Background. Categorization is one of the cognitive processes that ensure objects definition based on selected key features. Studying the aspects of categorization of bodily sensations allows to investigate the making sense of bodily sensations which seems promising in the context of exploring pathological bodily sensations. Objective: to study the aspects of categorization in psychodermatological disorders. Design. The study involved 113 patients with mental disorders with complaints of pathological bodily sensations (63 patients with psychodermatological disorders: delusional infestation (n = 33), neurotic excoriation (n = 30); 50 patients with depression with somatic symptoms). There were used the “Short Health Anxiety Inventory” and the psychosemantic method “Choice of descriptors of intraceptive sensations” with instructions: to choose bodily sensations of the healthy state, to classify sensations according to their similarity. Results. In psychodermatological disorders, health anxiety was lower in comparison to depression with somatic symptoms. The analysis of bodily sensations categorization of the healthy state revealed a significantly smaller descriptors number from classes of general somatic sensations, dynamics sensations, exteroceptive sensations and pleasant bodily sensations in psychodermatological disorders. In bodily sensations classification two general categories of bodily experience were distinguished: bodily sensations associated with the illness experience and bodily sensations of habitual functioning. Conclusion. Although there were the differences in health-anxiety and specificity of clinical manifestations in patients with mental disorders with complaints of pathological bodily sensations, the comparability of categorical structures of bodily experience was described, which manifested itself in features of general categories of bodily experience in psychodermatological disorders and depression with somatic symptoms.

Gender dysphoria and the mirror: A mediator between the first person and third person perspective

This article seeks to demystify Gender Dysphoria by offering a theoretical framework to formulate dissonance between the internal sense of gender (through interoceptive, proprioceptive, and exteroceptive sensation), body image, and socialisation. We will focus on the psychotherapeutic applicability of this model, offering a clinical case example and suggesting concrete psychological explorations of the person’s relationship with the mirror.

Efekty hipoterapii. Przegląd aktualnych doniesień (2013–2017)

ABSTRAKTWstęp: Hipoterapia jest ważną metodą usprawniania osób z problemami natury zarówno psychicznej, jak i fizycznej. Oddziałuje ona w trzech podstawowych sferach funkcjonowania człowieka. W sferze fizycznej podnosi ogólną sprawność, normalizuje napięcie mięśniowe, toruje prawidłowy wzorzec chodu, poprawia koordynację zdolności motorycznych, w tym głównie równowagi i poczucia rytmu. Poprawia orientację w przestrzeni i schemacie własnego ciała oraz stymuluje normalizację czucia głębokiego i powierzchniowego. W sferze emocjonalno-motywacyjnej powoduje wzrost motywacji i akceptacji procesu terapeutycznego. Zwiększa poczucie własnej wartości i zmniejsza zaburzenia emocjonalne. W obrębie strefy poznawczej stymuluje odbiór wrażeń zmysłowych. Poprawia percepcję wzrokową i słuchową. Stymuluje uwagę, pamięć, myślenie, mowę oraz nabywanie i rozwijanie nowych umiejętności. Natomiast w strefie społecznej aktywizuje psychospołecznie i rozwija pozytywne relacje społeczne.Coraz częściej bada się efekty stosowania hipoterapii u dzieci i dorosłych z różnymi dolegliwościami. Badania te prowadzone są różnymi metodami i przynoszą odmienne wyniki. Celem niniejszej pracy był przegląd aktualnych doniesień z obrębu recenzowanych czasopism naukowych o zasięgu międzynarodowym dotyczących badań nad efektywnością terapii z udziałem konia.Wyniki i wnioski: Wyłoniono 13 publikacji z lat 2013–2017 spełniających kryteria wyszukiwania. Uzyskane wyniki wykazały, że najlepsze efekty osiągane są w zakresie usprawniania motorycznego, głównie w zakresie poprawy równowagi, postawy, chodu oraz komunikacji i percepcji społecznej.

The prevalence, distribution, and functional importance of lower limb somatosensory impairments in chronic stroke survivors: a cross sectional observational study

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and distribution of lower limb somatosensory impairments in community dwelling chronic stroke survivors and examine the association between somatosensory impairments and walking, balance, and falls.Methods: Using a cross sectional observational design, measures of somatosensation (Erasmus MC modifications to the (revised) Nottingham Sensory Assessment), walking ability (10 m walk test, Walking Impact Scale, Timed “Get up and go”), balance (Functional Reach Test and Centre of Force velocity), and falls (reported incidence and Falls Efficacy Scale-International), were obtained.Results: Complete somatosensory data was obtained for 163 ambulatory chronic stroke survivors with a mean (SD) age 67(12) years and mean (SD) time since stroke 29 (46) months. Overall, 56% (n = 92/163) were impaired in the most affected lower limb in one or more sensory modality; 18% (n = 30/163) had impairment of exteroceptive sensation (light touch, pressure, and pin-prick), 55% (n = 90/163) had impairment of sharp-blunt discrimination, and 19% (n = 31/163) proprioceptive impairment. Distal regions of toes and foot were more frequently impaired than proximal regions (shin and thigh). Distal proprioception was significantly correlated with falls incidence (r = 0.25; p < 0.01), and centre of force velocity (r = 0.22, p < 0.01). The Walking Impact Scale was the only variable that significantly contributed to a predictive model of falls accounting for 15–20% of the variance.Conclusion: Lower limb somatosensory impairments are present in the majority of chronic stroke survivors and differ widely across modalities. Deficits of foot and ankle proprioception are most strongly associated with, but not predictive, of reported falls. The relative contribution of lower limb somatosensory impairments to mobility in chronic stroke survivors appears limited. Further investigation, particularly with regard to community mobility and falls, is warranted.Implications for RehabilitationSomatosensory impairments in the lower limb were present in approximately half of this cohort of chronic stroke survivors.Tactile discrimination is commonly impaired; clinicians should include an assessment of discriminative ability.Deficits of foot and ankle proprioception are most strongly associated with reported falls.Understanding post-stroke lower limb somatosensory impairments may help inform therapeutic strategies that aim to maximise long-term participation, minimise disability, and reduce falls.

The Elicitation of Relaxation and Interoceptive Awareness Using Floatation Therapy in Individuals With High Anxiety Sensitivity

BackgroundFloatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy), an intervention that attenuates exteroceptive sensory input to the nervous system, has recently been found to reduce state anxiety across a diverse clinical sample with high levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS). To further examine this anxiolytic effect, the present study investigated the affective and physiological changes induced by Floatation-REST and assessed whether individuals with high AS experienced any alterations in their awareness for interoceptive sensation while immersed in an environment lacking exteroceptive sensation. MethodsUsing a within-subject crossover design, 31 participants with high AS were randomly assigned to undergo a 90-minute session of Floatation-REST or an exteroceptive comparison condition. Measures of self-reported affect and interoceptive awareness were collected before and after each session, and blood pressure was measured during each session. ResultsRelative to the comparison condition, Floatation-REST generated a significant anxiolytic effect characterized by reductions in state anxiety and muscle tension and increases in feelings of relaxation and serenity (p < .001 for all variables). Significant blood pressure reductions were evident throughout the float session and reached the lowest point during the diastole phase (average reduction >12 mm Hg). The float environment also significantly enhanced awareness and attention for cardiorespiratory sensations. ConclusionsFloatation-REST induced a state of relaxation and heightened interoceptive awareness in a clinical sample with high AS. The paradoxical nature of the anxiolytic effect in this sample is discussed in relation to Wolpe’s theory of reciprocal inhibition and the regulation of distress via sustained attention to present moment visceral sensations such as the breath.

Emotion and the prefrontal cortex: An integrative review.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a critical role in the generation and regulation of emotion. However, we lack an integrative framework for understanding how different emotion-related functions are organized across the entire expanse of the PFC, as prior reviews have generally focused on specific emotional processes (e.g., decision making) or specific anatomical regions (e.g., orbitofrontal cortex). Additionally, psychological theories and neuroscientific investigations have proceeded largely independently because of the lack of a common framework. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of functional neuroimaging, electrophysiological, lesion, and structural connectivity studies on the emotion-related functions of 8 subregions spanning the entire PFC. We introduce the appraisal-by-content model, which provides a new framework for integrating the diverse range of empirical findings. Within this framework, appraisal serves as a unifying principle for understanding the PFC's role in emotion, while relative content-specialization serves as a differentiating principle for understanding the role of each subregion. A synthesis of data from affective, social, and cognitive neuroscience studies suggests that different PFC subregions are preferentially involved in assigning value to specific types of inputs: exteroceptive sensations, episodic memories and imagined future events, viscero-sensory signals, viscero-motor signals, actions, others' mental states (e.g., intentions), self-related information, and ongoing emotions. We discuss the implications of this integrative framework for understanding emotion regulation, value-based decision making, emotional salience, and refining theoretical models of emotion. This framework provides a unified understanding of how emotional processes are organized across PFC subregions and generates new hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying adaptive and maladaptive emotional functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record

Effects of age and non‐oropharyngeal proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensation on the magnitude of anticipatory mouth opening during eating

To best prevent and treat eating/swallowing problems, it is essential to understand how components of oral physiology contribute to the preservation and/or degradation of eating/swallowing in healthy ageing. Anticipatory, pre-swallow motor movements may be critical to safe and efficient eating/swallowing, particularly for older adults. However, the nature of these responses is relatively unknown. This study compared the magnitude of anticipatory mouth opening during eating in healthy older (aged 70-85) and younger (aged 18-30) adults under four eating conditions: typical self-feeding, typical assisted feeding (being fed by a research assistant resulting in proprioceptive loss), sensory loss self-feeding (wearing blindfold/headphones resulting in exteroceptive loss) and sensory loss assisted feeding (proprioceptive and exteroceptive loss). Older adults opened their mouths wider than younger adults in anticipation of food intake under both typical and most non-oropharyngeal sensory loss conditions. Further, the loss of proprioceptive and exteroceptive cues resulted in decreased anticipatory mouth opening for all participants. Greater mouth opening in older adults may be a protective compensation, contributing to the preservation of function associated with healthy ageing. Our finding that the loss of non-oropharyngeal sensory cues resulted in decreased anticipatory mouth opening highlights how important proprioception, vision, and hearing are in pre-swallow behaviour. Age- and disease-related changes in vision, hearing, and the ability to self-feed may reduce the effectiveness of these pre-swallow strategies.

Is there any coexistence of sacroiliac joints dysfunction with dysfunctions of the occipito-atlanto-axial complex? Part I: The sensorimotor function

Abstract Introduction Suboccipital muscles and ligaments of the cervicocephalic joints (CCJ) embody a large number of proprioceptors. There exists a possible correlation between the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) dysfunction with the suboccipital muscles atrophy leading to headaches and body imbalance. This can be caused by the sensorimotor dysfunction of cervical segments due to their functional connections with the SIJ. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the coexistence of SIJ dysfunction and the sensorimotor dysfunction of the CCJ. Materials and methods A double-blind test of CCJ and SIJ by Kaltenborn and Evjenth was conducted involving 80 patients experiencing low back pain, 40 of whom were diagnosed with SIJ dysfunction. Functional tests of the cervical spine were performed with Sensoneck. StatGraphics Centurion XV was employed to obtain the statistical analysis of the data. Results and discussion There was a tendency towards reduced strength of the C 2 muscles and a statistically significant instability of the C 1 segment in the study group. Exteroceptive sensation was not disturbed. Sensorimotor function of the CCJ differed in the number of errors made by patients with SIJ dysfunction, especially concerning complex head movements. The intragroup analysis indicated that more errors were made by those having the left SIJ dysfunction. Conclusions 1. In patients with SIJ dysfunction the tendency towards asymmetrical muscle strength was observed for the C 2 segment. 2. Exteroceptive sensation in the upper cervical dermatomes was not distorted by the influence of SIJ dysfunctions. 3. The sensorimotor function of the upper cervical motor segments was significantly worse for the population of patients with SIJ dysfunction, especially on the left side. 4. Sensoneck is a useful tool for an objective assessment of a manual therapy employed in the dysfunction concerning the occipito-atlanto-axial region.

Corporeal awareness and proprioceptive sense of the phantom

Phantom limb perception almost invariably follows limb amputation, and can be characterized by various corporeal and proprioceptive qualities. We report a study of 283 amputees, which administered a structured questionnaire to systematically determine the relative frequency and nature of various bodily aspects of phantom limb perception. These include the size, shape, posture, and telescoping of the phantom; exteroceptive sensations of itch, touch, pressure, vibration, temperature, and 'electric' sensations; and prosthesis embodiment. Phantom limbs were generally found to be characterized by properties that parallel those of the intact body, although with anatomically impossible configurations sometimes being perceived. We suggest that both the internal limb image and limb schemata play a significant role in the continued perception of phantom limbs.

Proprioceptive loss in leprous neuropathy: A study of 19 patients

Leprosy presents commonly with mononeuritis multiplex, affecting mainly the exteroceptive sensations. Neuropathy with a significant afferent large fiber element is considered to be an uncommon manifestation of leprous neuropathy. To evaluate the clinical and neurophysiologic aspects of a subset of patients with leprous neuropathy having clinical proprioceptive loss. Prospective study of patients with a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy secondary to leprosy having proprioceptive loss. Consecutive patients seen during a two-year period (2004 and 2005) diagnosed to have leprous neuropathy with proprioceptive abnormalities on clinical examination were included. The diagnosis of leprosy was achieved by clinical features along with positive skin biopsy, split skin smears or nerve biopsy. Their clinical and electrophysiological characteristics were studied. The results were analyzed using Chi-Square test. Values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant . We observed predominance (68.42%) of multibacillary of leprosy. Symmetrical neuropathies outnumbered mononeuritis multiplex (12:7). The pan sensory neuropathy had a mean duration of 24.32 months, but sometimes appeared early in the course of the disease. Areflexia and electrophysiological evidence of proximal affection was common, reflecting proximal spread of neuropathic process. Such patients have a higher incidence of developing deformities and ulcerations and they represent a vulnerable subset of patients with leprosy.

Sensitivity of the face following selective trigeminal rhizotomy

Ainda é controvertida a questão da sensibilidade profunda da face, particularmente no que diz respeito aos nervos incumbidos de sua transmissão. Enquanto alguns autores imputam tal mister ao nervo trigêmeo, outros o atribuem ao intermédio. Discute-se também qual o contingente (pontino ou mesencefálico) que, no trigêmeo, estaria encarregado da condução da sensibilidade proprioceptiva. Com a finalidade de contribuir para a solução do problema, os autores estudaram, em 23 pacientes submetidos à rizotomia seletiva do trigêmeo, as sensibilidades superficiais (tato, dor e temperatura) e profundas (barestesia e palestesia) da face. Foram analisadas estatìsticamente as alterações quantitativas e qualitativas observadas. Foi verificada elevação do limiar das sensibilidades profundas nas hemi-faces ipsolaterais à secção cirúrgica do trigêmeo. A média dos limiares de percepção vibratória nos territórios da face ipsolaterais e correspondentes topogràficamente às fibras radiculares seccionadas mostrou-se significativamente mais elevada que a relativa às hemifaces contralaterais. Entretanto, o estudo qualitativo não demonstrou correlação significativa entre hipoeste-sia vibratória e secção cirúrgica das fibras radiculares, mesmo em 6 pacientes em que ocorrera paresia facial como complicação operatória. Foi observada correlação altamente significativa entre os distúrbios das sensibilidades superficiais (particularmente tátil) e as fibras radiculares seccionadas. Os resultados são comentados à luz dos conhecimentos atuais sôbre a natureza complexa da sensibilidade vibratória. Os autores concluem que o nervo trigêmeo constitui uma das vias seguidas pela sensibilidade profunda da face, desde que se admita como responsável por ela o conjunto, semio-lògicamente indissolúvel, de receptores proprioceptivos situados nos músculos derivados dos dois primeiros arcos branquiais, relacionados com a mastigação e a mímica.