A device for measuring tactile spatiotemporal sensitivity.

A tactile stimulator array constructed from 88 piezoelectric ceramic plates is described. The array can produce sinusoidal traveling waves with arbitrary temporal frequency, spatial wavelength, and amplitude. Detection thresholds were measured for five temporal frequencies (1, 4, 16, 64, and 256 Hz) and five spatial wavelengths (1.81, 3.62, 7.23, 14.5, and infinity mm), and were plotted as a three-dimensional, spatiotemporal threshold surface. Detection thresholds were also measured using a conventional vibrator and a large circular contactor simulating the infinite wavelength stimulus produced by the array. The results describe the spatial and temporal frequency sensitivity of the P and NP I cutaneous receptor populations.