Tag

Sense Of Touch

All articles tagged with #sense of touch

Unveiling the Hidden Sense of Touch in Humans' Hair Follicles

Originally Published 2 years ago — by IFLScience

Scientists have discovered a new sense of touch in humans that is mediated by hair follicles. Through analyzing single cell RNA sequencing data, researchers found that hair follicles contain a higher than expected percentage of touch-sensitive receptors. Further experiments revealed that hair follicle cells release neurotransmitters serotonin and histamine, which activate adjacent sensory nerve cells, thus passing on a sense of touch. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the role of hair follicles in processing light touch and potential applications in skin conditions such as eczema.

health science-and-technology hair-follicles human-body neurotransmitters science-and-technology sense-of-touch sensory-nerve-cells

"Soft e-skin mimics human touch and generates nerve-like impulses"

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Nature.com

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a soft, flexible electronic skin that can mimic the process of touch. The technology could be used to create a covering for prosthetic limbs that would give wearers a sense of touch or help to restore sensation in people whose skin has been damaged. The e-skin is a thin, flexible sensor that can transmit a signal to the motor cortex in a rat's brain that causes the animal's leg to twitch when the e-skin is pressed or squeezed. The researchers hope to develop a less-invasive system that could be used in people who have suffered major injuries or have sensory disorders.

science technology electronic-skin flexible-sensors prosthetic-limbs sense-of-touch stanford-university technology