Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers
The three-dimensional micro-structure of physical surfaces produces frictional forces that provide sensory cues about properties of felt surfaces such as roughness. This tactile information activates somatosensory cortices, and frontal and temporal brain regions. Recent advances in haptic-feedback t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2020.548030/full |
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| author | Quoc C. Vuong Aya M. Shaaban Carla Black Jess Smith Mahmoud Nassar Mahmoud Nassar Ahmed Abozied Patrick Degenaar Walid Al-Atabany |
| author_facet | Quoc C. Vuong Aya M. Shaaban Carla Black Jess Smith Mahmoud Nassar Mahmoud Nassar Ahmed Abozied Patrick Degenaar Walid Al-Atabany |
| author_sort | Quoc C. Vuong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The three-dimensional micro-structure of physical surfaces produces frictional forces that provide sensory cues about properties of felt surfaces such as roughness. This tactile information activates somatosensory cortices, and frontal and temporal brain regions. Recent advances in haptic-feedback technologies allow the simulation of surface micro-structures via electro-static friction to produce touch sensations on otherwise flat screens. These sensations may benefit those with visual impairment or blindness. The primary aim of the current study was to test blind and sighted participants’ perceptual sensitivity to simulated tactile gratings. A secondary aim was to explore which brain regions were involved in simulated touch to further understand the somatosensory brain network for touch. We used a haptic-feedback touchscreen which simulated tactile gratings using digitally manipulated electro-static friction. In Experiment 1, we compared blind and sighted participants’ ability to detect the gratings by touch alone as a function of their spatial frequency (bar width) and intensity. Both blind and sighted participants showed high sensitivity to detect simulated tactile gratings, and their tactile sensitivity functions showed both linear and quadratic dependency on spatial frequency. In Experiment 2, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we conducted a preliminary investigation to explore whether brain activation to physical vibrations correlated with blindfolded (but sighted) participants’ performance with simulated tactile gratings outside the scanner. At the neural level, blindfolded (but sighted) participants’ detection performance correlated with brain activation in bi-lateral supplementary motor cortex, left frontal cortex and right occipital cortex. Taken together with previous studies, these results suggest that there are similar perceptual and neural mechanisms for real and simulated touch sensations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:10:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c78bf09488b349389005e1a107b2af03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:10:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-c78bf09488b349389005e1a107b2af032022-12-22T00:01:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2020-10-011410.3389/fnins.2020.548030548030Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted ObserversQuoc C. Vuong0Aya M. Shaaban1Carla Black2Jess Smith3Mahmoud Nassar4Mahmoud Nassar5Ahmed Abozied6Patrick Degenaar7Walid Al-Atabany8Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomBiomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, Helwan, EgyptBiosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomBiosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomNewcastle Eye Centre, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomFaculty of Medicine, Minia University Hospital, Al Minia, EgyptElectronics and Communications Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, EgyptSchool of Engineering, Newcastle University, Merz Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomBiomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, Helwan, EgyptThe three-dimensional micro-structure of physical surfaces produces frictional forces that provide sensory cues about properties of felt surfaces such as roughness. This tactile information activates somatosensory cortices, and frontal and temporal brain regions. Recent advances in haptic-feedback technologies allow the simulation of surface micro-structures via electro-static friction to produce touch sensations on otherwise flat screens. These sensations may benefit those with visual impairment or blindness. The primary aim of the current study was to test blind and sighted participants’ perceptual sensitivity to simulated tactile gratings. A secondary aim was to explore which brain regions were involved in simulated touch to further understand the somatosensory brain network for touch. We used a haptic-feedback touchscreen which simulated tactile gratings using digitally manipulated electro-static friction. In Experiment 1, we compared blind and sighted participants’ ability to detect the gratings by touch alone as a function of their spatial frequency (bar width) and intensity. Both blind and sighted participants showed high sensitivity to detect simulated tactile gratings, and their tactile sensitivity functions showed both linear and quadratic dependency on spatial frequency. In Experiment 2, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we conducted a preliminary investigation to explore whether brain activation to physical vibrations correlated with blindfolded (but sighted) participants’ performance with simulated tactile gratings outside the scanner. At the neural level, blindfolded (but sighted) participants’ detection performance correlated with brain activation in bi-lateral supplementary motor cortex, left frontal cortex and right occipital cortex. Taken together with previous studies, these results suggest that there are similar perceptual and neural mechanisms for real and simulated touch sensations.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2020.548030/fulltactile perceptionblind and sighted participantshaptic-feedback technologyfMRIsomatosensory brain network |
| spellingShingle | Quoc C. Vuong Aya M. Shaaban Carla Black Jess Smith Mahmoud Nassar Mahmoud Nassar Ahmed Abozied Patrick Degenaar Walid Al-Atabany Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers Frontiers in Neuroscience tactile perception blind and sighted participants haptic-feedback technology fMRI somatosensory brain network |
| title | Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers |
| title_full | Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers |
| title_short | Detection of Simulated Tactile Gratings by Electro-Static Friction Show a Dependency on Bar Width for Blind and Sighted Observers, and Preliminary Neural Correlates in Sighted Observers |
| title_sort | detection of simulated tactile gratings by electro static friction show a dependency on bar width for blind and sighted observers and preliminary neural correlates in sighted observers |
| topic | tactile perception blind and sighted participants haptic-feedback technology fMRI somatosensory brain network |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2020.548030/full |
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