Active touch in tactile perceptual discrimination: brain activity and behavioral responses to surface differences.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the neural and behavioral mechanisms of tactile perceptual discrimination using fMRI and a set of wrinkled surface stimuli with varying textures. Fifteen female participants were tasked with distinguishing between different surfaces by touch alone. Behavioral results demonstrated variable discriminability across conditions, reflecting the tactile sensitivity of human fingertips. Neural analysis showed varied brain activations tied to the task's difficulty. In the easiest least fine-grained discrimination condition, widespread activations were observed across sensory and integration regions. As task difficulty increased, stronger parietal and frontal lobe involvement reflected higher cognitive demands. In the hardest most fine-grained discrimination condition, activa

SUBMITTER: Fischer H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11885392 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature