PSYCH 2E03 Chapter 4: 4 Somatosensory System Perception
25 Feb 2016
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Gender women are more sensitive than men. Esthesiometer: set of calibrated fibres, each producing different force when applied to the skin: used to determine touch thresholds, facial areas have the lowest detection thresholds = most sensitive. Two-point limen: smallest separation of 2 points applied simultaneously to the skin that can still be discriminated: measured by the compass test (ct, distances smaller than the two-point limen will be perceived as one point. Increase in 2 point discrimination associated with: smaller mechanoreceptor field size, higher density of mechanoreceptors. Applies only to superficial (i. e. sa-i and fa-i) fibres. There are other methods to measure two-point discrimination, including point localization error (ple)o identify a point on the body that was previously touched (touched, touched again, is it the same spot?) Hyperaucity: spatial discrimination thresholds that are much lower than the traditional two- point limen. Broken down into 2 forms based on duration: prolonged, steady stimulation, produced adaptation over time, promoted by .
