Response of monkey glabrous skin mechanoreceptors to random noise sequences: II. Dynamic stimulus state analysis. 1996

F J Looft
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, USA. fjlooft@ee.wpi.edu

The responses of monkey glabrous skin slowly adapting (SAI, Merkel cell), rapidly adapting (RA, Meissner) and Pacinian corpuscle (PC) mechanoreceptors were analyzed as a function of the instantaneous position, velocity, and acceleration of a dynamic stimulus. For these experiments, a vibrotactile punctate stimulator was driven by a non-repeating-noise sequence. The resulting data (sampled stimulus waveform, windowed impulse) were processed in several ways. Initially, input-output correlation analysis was implemented to generate spike-aligned averages of the stimulus waveform preceding and following impulse initiation. From this analysis, it was determined that dual-responding RA and PC afferents--that is, those afferents that responded to both indenting and extracting stimulus movements--universally responded in a nearly perfectly symmetrical manner to the stimulus. Subsequently, two-dimensional (position, velocity) state histograms were generated and used to assess mechanoreceptor dynamic stimulus sensitivities. From these state histograms, it was determined that the threshold for impulse initiation by SAI afferents was preferentially sensitive to the indentation position of the stimulus, with only a minor sensitivity to stimulus velocity. RA afferent thresholds were sensitive to a continuum of dynamic stimulus velocities and positions. At the extremes, RA afferent impulses could be initiated by either a highly indented, low-velocity stimulus or high-velocity stimulus with a limited indentation position. PC afferents appeared to be preferentially sensitive to a combination of stimulus velocity and acceleration, but the data-sampling interval was too coarse to adequately resolve the full range of dynamic stimulus sensitivities.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008253 Macaca mulatta A species of the genus MACACA inhabiting India, China, and other parts of Asia. The species is used extensively in biomedical research and adapts very well to living with humans. Chinese Rhesus Macaques,Macaca mulatta lasiota,Monkey, Rhesus,Rhesus Monkey,Rhesus Macaque,Chinese Rhesus Macaque,Macaca mulatta lasiotas,Macaque, Rhesus,Rhesus Macaque, Chinese,Rhesus Macaques,Rhesus Macaques, Chinese,Rhesus Monkeys
D008465 Mechanoreceptors Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptor cells include the INNER EAR hair cells, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures. Golgi Tendon Organ,Golgi Tendon Organs,Krause's End Bulb,Krause's End Bulbs,Mechanoreceptor,Mechanoreceptor Cell,Meissner's Corpuscle,Neurotendinous Spindle,Neurotendinous Spindles,Receptors, Stretch,Ruffini's Corpuscle,Ruffini's Corpuscles,Stretch Receptor,Stretch Receptors,Mechanoreceptor Cells,Bulb, Krause's End,Bulbs, Krause's End,Cell, Mechanoreceptor,Cells, Mechanoreceptor,Corpuscle, Meissner's,Corpuscle, Ruffini's,Corpuscles, Ruffini's,End Bulb, Krause's,End Bulbs, Krause's,Krause End Bulb,Krause End Bulbs,Krauses End Bulb,Krauses End Bulbs,Meissner Corpuscle,Meissners Corpuscle,Organ, Golgi Tendon,Organs, Golgi Tendon,Receptor, Stretch,Ruffini Corpuscle,Ruffini Corpuscles,Ruffinis Corpuscle,Ruffinis Corpuscles,Spindle, Neurotendinous,Spindles, Neurotendinous,Tendon Organ, Golgi,Tendon Organs, Golgi
D008475 Median Nerve A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand. Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D008959 Models, Neurological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the neurological system, processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Neurologic Models,Model, Neurological,Neurologic Model,Neurological Model,Neurological Models,Model, Neurologic,Models, Neurologic
D009949 Orientation Awareness of oneself in relation to time, place and person. Cognitive Orientation,Mental Orientation,Psychological Orientation,Cognitive Orientations,Mental Orientations,Orientation, Cognitive,Orientation, Mental,Orientation, Psychological,Orientations,Orientations, Cognitive,Orientations, Mental,Orientations, Psychological,Psychological Orientations
D010141 Pacinian Corpuscles Rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors found in subcutaneous tissue beneath both hairy and glabrous skin. Pacinian corpuscles contain an afferent nerve fiber surrounded by a capsule with multiple concentric layers. They have large receptive fields and are most sensitive to high-frequency stimuli, such as vibration. Pacinian Corpuscle,Corpuscle, Pacinian,Corpuscles, Pacinian
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D000344 Afferent Pathways Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part toward a nerve center. Afferent Pathway,Pathway, Afferent,Pathways, Afferent
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001288 Attention Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating. Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions

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