Gonzales G R
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.
Mayo Clin Proc. 1996 Nov;71(11):1039-46. doi: 10.4065/71.11.1039.
To determine whether tactile receptive communication is possible through the use of a mechanical device that produces the phi phenomenon on the body surface.
Twenty-six subjects (11 blind and 15 sighted participants) were tested with use of a tactile communication device (TCD) that produces an illusion of linear continuity forming numbers on the dorsal aspect of the wrist. Recognition of a number or number set was the goal.
A TCD with protruding and vibrating solenoids produced sequentially delivered points of cutaneous stimulation along a pattern resembling numbers and created the illusion of dragging a vibrating stylet to form numbers, similar to what might be felt by testing for graphesthesia.
Blind subjects recognized numbers with fewer trials than did sighted subjects, although all subjects were able to recognize all the numbers produced by the TCD. Subjects who had been blind since birth and had no prior tactile exposure to numbers were able to draw the numbers after experiencing them delivered by the TCD even though they did not recognize their meaning.
The phi phenomenon is probably responsible for the illusion of continuous lines in the shape of numbers as produced by the TCD. This tactile illusion could potentially be used for more complex tactile communications such as letters and words.
确定通过使用一种能在体表产生似动现象的机械设备进行触觉感受性交流是否可行。
使用一种触觉交流设备（TCD）对26名受试者（11名盲人及15名视力正常者）进行测试，该设备能在手腕背侧产生形成数字的线性连续性错觉。目标是识别一个数字或一组数字。
一个带有突出且振动的螺线管的TCD，沿着类似数字的模式依次传递皮肤刺激点，并产生拖动振动探针以形成数字的错觉，类似于在进行触觉图形识别测试时可能感受到的。
盲人受试者识别数字所需的试验次数比视力正常的受试者少，尽管所有受试者都能够识别TCD产生的所有数字。自幼失明且此前没有数字触觉体验的受试者，在通过TCD体验数字后能够画出这些数字，尽管他们并不理解其含义。
似动现象可能是TCD产生数字形状的连续线条错觉的原因。这种触觉错觉可能潜在地用于更复杂的触觉交流，如字母和单词。
