Projects

Neural coding of human social touch

Interpersonal touch is an important part of social communication, and we know that the human nervous system is equipped with the capacity to process complex information specific to social touch. This project investigates how the physical characteristics of interpersonal touch are represented in the peripheral and central nervous systems. To answer these questions, we use an industry-leading 3D touch-tracking system using computer vision, and are developing standardized skin stimulation that mimics natural interpersonal touch. We combine these approaches with measurements of the nervous system including microneurography, functional magnetic resonance imaging and facial electromyography.

 

The role of skin mechanics in touch sensation 

The skin responds to even tiny touches with subtle movements akin to ripples on a pond. These movements or vibrations play a vital role in transmitting touch signals to your nervous system. By employing a cutting-edge optical imaging technology called spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), we can track these subtle movements beneath the skin's surface in real-time. At the same time, we measure how the nervous system responds, and determine which vibrations are important for perception.