Active Touch: Vibrissal Tactile Discrimination

这项研究致力于研究大脑如何使用体感触觉系统识别环境中的物体。所获得的结果将进一步加深我们对计算是如何在复杂的皮质信息处理系统中进行的理解，并将有助于不断增长的关于大脑如何组织来处理感觉信息的知识体系。使用的技术包括行为测试、计算机辅助运动分析和单个脑细胞的电记录，以研究哺乳动物如何从面部触觉获取、处理和使用感觉信息。以前的研究已经证明，这种触觉系统与人类在主动触摸有纹理的表面时使用指尖之间存在重要的相似之处。

This research is concerned with investigating how the brain recognizes objects in the environment using the somatosensory tactile system. Results obtained will further our understanding of how computations are carried out in complex, cortical information- processing systems, and will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about how the brain is organized to process sensory information. The techniques used are behavioral testing, computer- assisted motion analysis and electrical recordings from single brain cells in order to investigate how mammals acquire, process and use sensory information from facial vibrissae. Previous studies have demonstrated that important similarities exist between this tactile system and use of the fingertips by humans, when they are actively touching textured surfaces.