Central mechanisms of tactile shape perception

Studies show that while the cortical mechanisms of two-dimensional (2D) form and motion processing are similar in touch and vision, the mechanisms of three-dimensional (3D) shape processing are different. 2D form and motion are processed in areas 3b and 1 of SI cortex by neurons with receptive field...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in neurobiology 2008-08, Vol.18 (4), p.418-424
Main Author: Hsiao, Steven
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Conformation
Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology
Humans
Neurology
Neurons - physiology
Orientation - physiology
Proprioception - physiology
Psychiatry
Skin - innervation
Somatosensory Cortex - cytology
Somatosensory Cortex - physiology
Touch - physiology
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Summary:Studies show that while the cortical mechanisms of two-dimensional (2D) form and motion processing are similar in touch and vision, the mechanisms of three-dimensional (3D) shape processing are different. 2D form and motion are processed in areas 3b and 1 of SI cortex by neurons with receptive fields (RFs) composed of excitatory and inhibitory subregions. 3D shape is processed in area 2 and SII and relies on the integration of cutaneous and proprioceptive inputs. The RFs of SII neurons vary in size and shape with heterogeneous structures consisting of orientation-tuned fingerpads mixed with untuned excitatory or inhibitory fingerpads. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the neurons to cutaneous inputs changes with hand conformation. We hypothesize that these RFs are the kernels underlying tactile object recognition.
ISSN:0959-4388
1873-6882
DOI:10.1016/j.conb.2008.09.001