A stimulator for moving textured surfaces sinusoidally across the skin.
The stimulator allows textured surfaces to be moved sinusoidally across the skin of the fingerpad. Sinusoidal motion is produced by a "scotch yolk" driven by a DC motor. The amplitude of movement is adjustable up to a maximum of 80 mm peak to peak and the frequency is continuously adjustable from 0.1 Hz to 2.0 Hz. Movement of the surface is monitored by an optical transducer and contact force between the finger and the surface is monitored by a strain gauge bridge. The stimulator is simple and robust and is suitable for both neurophysiological and psychophysical experiments in animals and humans.
D000818:Animals; D000882:Haplorhini; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*