The evocation of a tactile sensation using an electric current flowing through the skin, via electrodes placed on the skin surface.
Published in Chapter:
Electrocutaneous Stimulation of Skin Mechanoreceptors for Tactile Studies with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Valentina Hartwig (University of Pisa, Italy, and C.N.R. Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italy), Claudia Cappelli (University of Pisa, Italy), Nicola Vanello (University of Pisa, Italy, and C.N.R. Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italy), Emiliano Ricciardi (University of Pisa, Italy), Enzo Pasquale Scilingo (University of Pisa, Italy), Giulio Giovannetti (C.N.R. Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italy), Maria Filomena Santarelli (C.N.R. Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italy), Vincenzo Positano (C.N.R. Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italy), Pietro Pietrini (University of Pisa, Italy), and Lu Landini (University of Pisa, Italy)
Copyright: © 2008
|Pages: 8
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-889-5.ch063
Abstract
To evoke specific sensations related to specific types of mechanoreceptors, we consider here the possibility of using electrotactile stimulation, varying the amplitude and the frequency of the stimulating electric signal, but maintaining the same waveform. According to a different specificity of the mechanoreceptors at different mechanical stimulus (Kaczmarek, Webster, Bach-y- Rita, & Tompkins, 1991), there might exist receptor specificity for different amplitude and frequency of electrical stimulus. In this case it could be possible to stimulate specifically several types of mechanoreceptors maintaining the same waveform and varying only its amplitude or frequency, with the possibility of creating a different sensation for tactile studies and augmented reality applications.