title: Haptic detection thresholds of Gaussian profiles over the whole range of spatial scales.
abstract: In the literature only a small subset of the broad range of scales of human haptic perception has been explored. In this experiment, haptic detection thresholds have been investigated over a wide range of spatial scales. Computer-controlled manufacturing techniques have made it possible to produce stimuli with sufficient accuracy to explore the gamut of haptic scales. We used stimuli with a convex or concave Gaussian-shaped profile running over the middle of a strip. The width of the Gaussian profile was varied between 150 microns and 240 mm. In this range of spatial scales a number of mechanisms, ranging from cutaneous mechanoreception to proprioception in fingers, arm and shoulder, contribute to haptic perception. The discrimination threshold between a flat surface and a Gaussian surface was investigated in a series of two alternative forced choice experiments on human subjects. The thresholds run from 1 micron for the narrowest Gaussian profiles to 8 mm for the broadest profile. The same thresholds were found for convex and concave shapes. Over the range of spatial scales, from 1 mm width on, the dependence of the detection threshold on the spatial width of the Gaussian profile was found to be a power function with an exponent of about 1.3.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Instituut, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.louw@phys.uu.nl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kappers
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Koenderink
mesh_terms: D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D016011:Normal Distribution; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D011601:Psychophysics; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*