Tactile texture signals in primate primary somatosensory cortex and their relation to subjective roughness intensity

Journal of Neurophysiology
Stéphanie BourgeonC E Chapman

Abstract

This study investigated the hypothesis that a simple intensive code, based on mean firing rate, could explain the cortical representation of subjective roughness intensity and its invariance with scanning speed. We examined the sensitivity of neurons in the cutaneous, finger representation of primary somatosensory cortex (S1) to a wide range of textures [1 mm high, raised-dot surfaces; spatial periods (SPs), 1.5-8.5 mm], scanned under the digit tips at different speeds (40-115 mm/s). Since subjective roughness estimates show a monotonic increase over this range and are independent of speed, we predicted that the mean firing rate of a subgroup of S1 neurons would share these properties. Single-unit recordings were made in four alert macaques (areas 3b, 1 and 2). Cells whose discharge rate showed a monotonic increase with SP, independent of speed, were particularly concentrated in area 3b. Area 2 was characterized by a high proportion of cells sensitive to speed, with or without texture sensitivity. Area 1 had intermediate properties. We suggest that area 3b and most likely area 1 play a key role in signaling roughness intensity, and that a mean rate code, signaled by both slowly and rapidly adapting neurons, is present at the le...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 13, 2018·Journal of Neurophysiology·Wan JiangC Elaine Chapman
Feb 6, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Justin D Lieber, Sliman J Bensmaia
Dec 10, 2019·Cerebral Cortex·Justin D Lieber, Sliman J Bensmaia
Apr 25, 2020·Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience·Junsuk KimHeinrich H Bülthoff
Sep 9, 2021·Journal of Neurophysiology·Colleen P RyanMatteo Bianchi

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