Viscoelastic characterization of the primate finger pad in vivo by microstep indentation and three-dimensional finite element models for tactile sensation studies

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
Siddarth KumarMandayam A Srinivasan

Abstract

When we touch an object, surface loads imposed on the skin are transmitted to thousands of specialized nerve endings (mechanoreceptors) embedded within the skin. These mechanoreceptors transduce the mechanical signals imposed on them into a neural code of the incident stimuli, enabling us to feel the object. To understand the mechanisms of tactile sensation, it is critical to understand the relationship between the applied surface loads, mechanical state at the mechanoreceptor locations, and transduced neural codes. In this paper, we characterize the bulk viscoelastic properties of the primate finger pad and show its relationship to the dynamic firing rate of SA-1 mechanoreceptors. Two three-dimensional (3D) finite element viscoelastic models, a homogeneous and a multilayer model, of the primate fingertip are developed and calibrated with data from a series of force responses to micro-indentation experiments on primate finger pads. We test these models for validation by simulating indentation with a line load and comparing surface deflection with data in the literature (Srinivasan, 1989, "Surface Deflection of Primate Fingertip Under Line Load," J. Biomech., 22(4), pp. 343-349). We show that a multilayer model with an elastic e...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 20, 2015·Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience·Gerald E Loeb, George A Tsianos
Jul 26, 2016·Biomedical Optics Express·Michael ShawMandayam A Srinivasan

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