title: A multiphysics model of the Pacinian corpuscle.
abstract: The Pacinian corpuscle (PC) is a dermal mechanoreceptor that responds to high-frequency (20-1000 Hz) vibrations. The PC's structure allows transmission of vibrations through its layers (lamellae) to the centrally-located nerve fiber (neurite). This work combines mechanical models of the PC with an electrochemical model of peripheral nerves to simulate the tactile response of the entire system. A three-stage model of response to a vibratory input was developed, consisting of (1) outer core mechanics, (2) inner core mechanics, and (3) neurite electrochemistry. The model correctly predicts the band-pass nature of the PC's frequency response, showing that the PC structure can amplify oscillatory strains within its target frequency band. Specifically, strain induced by a vibratory stimulus is amplified by a factor of 8-12 from the PC surface to the neurite. Our results also support the hypothesis that PC rapid adaptation is affected by the lamellar structures without requiring neuronal adaptivity. Simulated different-sized PCs showed a shift in frequency response, suggesting that clusters of different-sized PCs could enable more nuanced tactile encoding than uniform clusters. By modeling the PC's mechano-to-neural transduction, we can begin to characterize the mechanosensation of other receptors to understand how multiple receptors interact to create our sensation of touch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. baroc001@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9198-3011
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quindlen
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Henryk K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Stolarski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. baroc001@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. baroc001@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Barocas
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D010141:Pacinian Corpuscles / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration