Cited by 421Tactile and Sensory InteractionsMotor Control and AdaptationVisual perception and processing mechanisms

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Spatial and temporal codes mediate the tactile perception of natural textures

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Weber, Alison I., Saal, Hannes P., Lieber, Justin D., Cheng, Ju-Wen, Manfredi, Louise R., Dammann, John F., Bensmaia, Sliman J.·2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI 10.1073/pnas.1305509110PMC PMC3800989

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Abstract

When we run our fingers over the surface of an object, we acquire information about its microgeometry and material properties. Texture information is widely believed to be conveyed in spatial patterns of activation evoked across one of three populations of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents that innervate the fingertips. Here, we record the responses evoked in individual cutaneous afferents in Rhesus macaques as we scan a diverse set of natural textures across their fingertips using a custom-made rotating drum stimulator. We show that a spatial mechanism can only account for the processing of coarse textures. Information about most natural textures, however, is conveyed through precise temporal spiking patterns in afferent responses, driven by high-frequency skin vibrations elicited during scanning. Furthermore, these texture-specific spiking patterns predictably dilate or contract in time with changes in scanning speed; the systematic effect of speed on neuronal activity suggests that it can be reversed to achieve perceptual constancy across speeds. The proposed temporal coding mechanism involves converting the fine spatial structure of the surface into a temporal spiking pattern, shaped in part by the mechanical properties of the skin, and ascribes an additional function to vibration-sensitive mechanoreceptive afferents. This temporal mechanism complements the spatial one and greatly extends the range of tangible textures. We show that a combination of spatial and temporal mechanisms, mediated by all three populations of afferents, accounts for perceptual judgments of texture.

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Background
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A spatial code for temporal information is necessary for efficient sensory learning
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Background
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Introduction of a New In-Situ Measurement System for the Study of Touch-Feel Relevant Surface Properties
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Background
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“Further, there is evidence that tactile feature extraction can happen already at aﬀerent stages (Johansson and Flanagan, 2009; Gollisch and Meister, 2010; Weber et al., 2013), complementing with central information processing in the sensory cortex (Bensmaia et al., 2008a; Hsiao, 2008).”
Background
Wearable Electrohydraulic Actuation For Salient Full‐Fingertip Haptic Feedback
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Background
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“In cognitive neurosciences, seminal studies on the intersensory discrepancy stated that spatial congruence between the multisensory cues (in this case vision and touch) is a fundamental feature for perceptual integration to happen (Welch & Warren, 1980).”
Background
From Human-to-Human Touch to Peripheral Nerve Responses
Hauser, S. C., Nagi, S. S., McIntyre, S., Israr, A., Olausson, H., & Gerling, G. J. (2019) · IEEE World Haptics Conference (WHC) · doi:10.1109/whc.2019.8816113 · Cited by 14
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Background
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Background
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Background
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BackgroundInfluential
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Authors: Weber, A. I., Saal, H. P., Lieber, J. D., Cheng, J.-W., Manfredi, L. R., Dammann, J. F., & Bensmaia, S. J.
Affiliations: Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy and
University of Chicago (US)
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (TW)
ORCID: Weber, Alison I.
Saal, Hannes P.
Lieber, Justin D.
Manfredi, Louise R.
Venue: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Published: 2013-09-30
Volume: 110
Issue: 42
Pages: 17107-17112
ISSN: 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
1091-6490
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1305509110
PMC: PMC3800989
OpenAlex: W2147698153
Cited by: 421
References: 39
Citations by year: 2026: 37 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 2
FWCI: 10.02
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
europepmc.org
Licence: other-oa
Locations: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords: tactile texture perception, cutaneous mechanoreceptors, temporal coding, spatial coding, skin vibration, scanning speed, perceptual constancy, natural textures, rhesus monkeys, skin biomechanics
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Female, Fingers, Humans, Macaca mulatta, Male, Synaptic Transmission, Skin, Surface Properties, Vibration, Touch Perception

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Spatial and temporal codes mediate the tactile perception of natural textures

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