A novel device for the study of somatosensory information processing

Abstract

Current methods for applying multi-site vibratory stimuli to the skin typically involve the use of multiple, individual vibrotactile stimulators. Limitations of such an arrangement include difficulty with both positioning the stimuli as well as ensuring that stimuli are delivered in a synchronized and deliberate manner. Previously, we reported a two-site tactile stimulator that was developed in order to solve these problems (Tannan et al., 2007a). Due to both the success of that novel stimulator and the limitations that were inherent in that device, we designed and fabricated a four-site stimulator that provides a number of advantages over the previous version. First, the device can stimulate four independent skin sites and is primarily designed for stimulating the digit tips. Second, the positioning of the probe tips has been re-designed to provide better ergonomic hand placement. Third, the device is much more portable than the previously-reported stimulator. Fourth, the stimulator head has a much smaller footprint on the table or surface where it resides. To demonstrate the capacity of the device for delivering tactile stimulation at four independent sites, a finger agnosia protocol, in the presence and absence of conditioning stimuli, was conducted on seventeen healthy control subjects. The study demonstrated that with increasing amplitudes of vibrotactile conditioning stimuli concurrent with the agnosia test, inaccuracies of digit identification increased, particularly at digits D3 and D4. The results are consistent with prior studies that implicated synchronization of adjacent and near-adjacent cortical ensembles with conditioning stimuli in impacting TOJ performance (Tommerdahl et al., 2007).

Reduced GABAergic inhibition and abnormal sensory symptoms in children with Tourette syndrome

“…A CM4 four-digit tactile stimulator (Cortical Metrics) was used for vibrotactile stimulation (Holden et al 2012). Stimuli were delivered to the glabrous skin of LD2 and LD3, and all stimuli were presented within the flutter range (0 -50 Hz) with sinusoidal stimuli.…”

“…Stimuli were delivered to the glabrous skin of LD2 and LD3, and all stimuli were presented within the flutter range (0 -50 Hz) with sinusoidal stimuli. Visual feedback, task responses, and data collection were performed on an Acer Onebook Netbook computer running Cortical Metrics software (Holden et al 2012). The vibrotactile testing battery consisted of eight tests divided into four tasks each with two conditions.…”

Tactile processing in children and adolescents with obsessive–compulsive disorder

“…The device has a head unit on which each participant placed his/her hand with four fingertips (of digits D2-D5) touching the plastic contactor probes (diameter: 5 mm, static indentation: 0.5 mm) at adjustable locations (Holden et al 2012). Based on self-reports for handedness, we stimulated the digits D2 and D3 of the non-dominant hand.…”

Validation of a Vibrotactile Stimulation System Using the Wii Remote for Studies of Tactile Sensitivity

“…Several systems have been developed to generate vibrotactile stimuli, including a motor for repeated touch stimulation [6,7], a moving magnet linear actuator [8], a voice coil actuator [9], and a piezoelectric actuator [10 -12]. In addition, several mechanical stimulators are commercially available.…”