An individual's skin stiffness predicts their tactile acuity.

ABSTRACT: Individual differences in tactile acuity have been correlated with age, gender, and finger size, while the role of the skin's stiffness has been underexplored. Using an approach to image the 3-D deformation of the skin surface while in contact with transparent elastic objects, we evaluate a cohort of 40 young participants, who present a diverse range of finger size, skin stiffness, and fingerprint ridge breadth. The results indicate that skin stiffness generally correlates with finger size, although individuals with relatively softer skin can better discriminate compliant objects. Analysis of contact at the skin surface reveals that softer skin generates more prominent patterns of deformation, in particular greater rates of change in contact area, which correlate with higher rates of perce

SUBMITTER: Li B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10370135 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature