Cortical Processing of Tactual Spacial Information

描述（由申请人提供）：在本申请中，我们联合收割机结合了两项长期研究的努力，研究触觉空间感知的神经机制。印第安纳州大学的詹姆斯克雷格博士将不会继续他的资助，而是将加入约翰霍普金斯大学的这个项目。这个应用程序的广泛目标是了解二维形状，纹理和运动是如何在体感皮层表示。形状、质地和运动在所有感觉系统中都很重要。我们将使用一个400探头的刺激器，它可以产生广泛的动态模式来刺激指垫。我们将进行人类的心理物理学研究和非人类灵长类动物的神经生理学研究。第一个目的是了解复杂的模式是如何在躯体感觉皮层中感知和表现的。在这些实验中，我们将研究如何将空间特征（如直线和曲线）在空间和时间上结合起来形成复杂的空间模式。第二个目的是研究纹理在躯体感觉皮层中的表征。在这些实验中，我们将使用广泛的空间模式，我们以前用来研究纹理感知的外围机制，以确定纹理是如何在皮层编码。第三个目的是研究运动在大脑皮层的表征。特别是，我们将以不同的方向和扫描速度扫描手指垫上的各种空间图案，以确定运动如何与形状和纹理处理相互作用。这些研究的结果将提供对中枢神经问题的潜在机制的理解，并将提供对控制假肢所必需的感觉反馈的理解。第三个好处是，这些研究将有助于开发聋哑人和盲人的皮肤交流系统。公共卫生相关性：拟议研究的结果将有助于我们理解外周和中枢神经系统问题的影响，以及我们对神经系统检查结果的解释，如轻触阈值、空间敏锐度和方向灵敏度的变化。为了给假肢的控制提供感觉反馈，了解手通常如何处理触觉信息是很重要的。此外，触觉模式的感知能力的拟议措施将有助于发展的皮肤通信系统的盲人，聋人和半盲。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this application we combine the efforts of two long term studies investigating the neural mechanisms of tactile spatial perception. Dr. James Craig of Indiana University will not be renewing his grant but instead will be joining this project at Johns Hopkins University. The broad goals of this application are to understand how two-dimensional shape, texture and motion are represented in somatosensory cortex. Shape, texture and motion are important in all sensory systems. We will use a 400-probe stimulator that can produce a wide range of dynamic patterns to stimulate the finger pad. We will perform both psychophysical studies in humans and neurophysiological studies in non-human primates. The first aim is to understand how complex patterns are perceived and represented in somatosensory cortex. In these experiments we will investigate how spatial features such as lines and curves are combined both spatially and temporally to from complex spatial patterns. The second aim is to investigate how texture is represented in somatosensory cortex. In these experiments, we will use a wide range of spatial patterns that we used previously to study the peripheral mechanisms of texture perception to determine how texture is coded in cortex. The third aim is to investigate how motion is represented in cortex. In particular we will scan various spatial patterns across the finger pad at different directions and scanning velocities to determine how motion interacts with form and texture processing. The results from these studies will provide an understanding of the mechanisms underlying central neurological problems and will provide an understanding of the sensory feedback that is necessary for the control of prosthetic limbs. A third benefit is that these studies will aid in the development of cutaneous communication systems for the deaf and blind. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The results from the proposed studies will aid our understanding of the effects of both peripheral and central neurological problems, and our interpretation of the results of neurological examinations, such as changes in light touch thresholds, spatial acuity, and directional sensitivity. To provide sensory feedback for the control of prosthetic limbs, it is important to understand how the hand normally processes touch information. In addition, the proposed measures of the perceptibility of tactile patterns will aid in the development of cutaneous communication systems for the blind, deaf, and deaf-blind.