title: Unmyelinated tactile afferents underpin detection of low-force monofilaments.
abstract: Human hairy but not glabrous skin has unmyelinated (C) tactile (CT) afferents that project to insular cortex. We studied two subjects with the rare sensory neuronopathy syndrome who lack A-beta fibers but have relatively preserved C-fiber function. Weak monofilaments were detected on hairy skin alone. Hence, the ability to detect light touch does not depend entirely on the A-beta somatosensory system; CT afferents may contribute to the detection of weak monofilaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Poole Hospital and University of Bournemouth, Bournemouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: M Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bushnell
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McGlone
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elam
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lamarre
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallbo
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Olausson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*