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The neurophysiology of unmyelinated tactile afferents
Abstract
CT (C tactile) afferents are a distinct type of unmyelinated, low-threshold mechanoreceptive units existing in the hairy but not glabrous skin of humans and other mammals. Evidence from patients lacking myelinated tactile afferents indicates that signaling in these fibers activate the insular cortex. Since this system is poor in encoding discriminative aspects of touch, but well-suited to encoding slow, gentle touch, CT fibers in hairy skin may be part of a system for processing pleasant and socially relevant aspects of touch. CT fiber activation may also have a role in pain inhibition. This review outlines the growing evidence for unique properties and pathways of CT afferents.
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“Peripheral nerves have a variety of fibers with different physiology and function, as well as Schwann cells, blood vessels, and various supporting cells [42, 104–106].”
From Safety of long-term electrical peripheral nerve stimulation: review of the state of the art (2019) · cites this paper as [104]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Olausson, H., Wessberg, J., Morrison, I., McGlone, F., & Vallbo, Å.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Olausson, Håkan
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-02
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 185-191
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1985144092
- Cited by
- 587
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 63 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 0.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- C-tactile afferents, unmyelinated afferents, low-threshold mechanoreceptors, hairy skin, insula, tactile perception, pain inhibition, social touch
- MeSH terms
- Afferent Pathways, Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Hair, Homeostasis, Humans, Mechanoreceptors, Neurons, Afferent, Nociceptors, Touch, Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated, Touch Perception
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