Name: testing tactile masking between the forearms
Uploaded: 2016-02-10T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms at JoVE.com

LRH was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. SD was partly supported from the NSERC CREATE program.

All of the experiments were approved by the York Ethics board and all participants signed informed consent forms. The experiments were performed in accordance with the Treaty of Helsinki.
1. Stimuli
<ol>
	<li>Tactile Detection Stimulus
	<ol>
		<li>Use a tactor (1.17&#34; diameter and 0.30&#34; thick) to deliver tactile stimuli of 250 Hz vibration for 100 msec. Using a purpose-built tactor provides a linear relationship between the amount of travel and the voltage applied.</li>
		<li>Control ...

<ol>
	<li>von Be&#769;ke&#769;sy, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Sensory Inhibition. , (1967).</li><li>Uttal, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibitory+interaction+of+responses+to+electrical+stimuli+in+the+fingers.">Inhibitory interaction of responses to electrical stimuli in the fingers.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. Psych. 53 (1), 47-51 (1960).</li><li>Schmid, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Temporal+aspects+of+cutaneous+interaction+with+two-point+electrical+stimulation.">Temporal aspects of cutaneous interaction with two-point electrical stimulation.</a> J. Exp. Psychol. Gen. 61, 400-409 (1961).</li><li>Abramsky, O., Carmon, A., Bentontt, A. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Masking+of+and+by+tactile+pressure+stimuli.">Masking of and by tactile pressure stimuli.</a> Percept. Psychophys. 10 (5), 353-355 (1971).</li><li>Sherrick, C. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+double+simultaneous+stimulation+of+the+skin.">Effects of double simultaneous stimulation of the skin.</a> Am. J. Psychol. 77, 42-53 (1964).</li><li>Gilson, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vibrotactile+masking:+effects+of+multiple+maskers.">Vibrotactile masking: effects of multiple maskers.</a> Percept. Psychophys. 95 (4), 2213-2220 (1969).</li><li>Braun, C., Hess, H., Burkhardt, M., W&#252;hle, A., Preissl, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+right+hand+knows+what+the+left+hand+is+feeling.">The right hand knows what the left hand is feeling.</a> Exp. Brain. Res. 162 (3), 366-373 (2005).</li><li>Tam&#232;, L., Farn&#232;, A., Pavani, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatial+coding+of+touch+at+the+fingers:+Insights+from+double+simultaneous+stimulation+within+and+between.">Spatial coding of touch at the fingers: Insights from double simultaneous stimulation within and between.</a> Neurosci. Lett. 487 (1), 78-82 (2011).</li><li>Tam&#232;, L., Moles, A., Holmes, N. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Within+but+not+between+hands+interactions+in+vibrotactile+detection+thresholds+reflect+somatosensory+receptive+field+organization.">Within but not between hands interactions in vibrotactile detection thresholds reflect somatosensory receptive field organization.</a> Front. Psychol. 5, 1-9 (2014).</li><li>Harris, J. A., Diamond, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ipsilateral+and+contralateral+transfer+of+tactile+learning.">Ipsilateral and contralateral transfer of tactile learning.</a> Neuroreport. 11 (2), 263-266 (2000).</li><li>Fechner, G. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Elemente der Psychophysik . , (1860).</li><li>Watson, A., Pelli, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=QUEST-A+Bayesian+adaptive+psychophysical+method.">QUEST-A Bayesian adaptive psychophysical method.</a> Percept. Psychophys. 33, 113-120 (1983).</li><li>D'Amour, S., Harris, L. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Contralateral+tactile+masking+between+forearms.">Contralateral tactile masking between forearms.</a> Exp. Brain. Res. 232 (3), 821-826 (2014).</li><li>D'Amour, S., Harris, L. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vibrotactile+masking+through+the+body.">Vibrotactile masking through the body.</a> Exp. Brain. Res. 232 (9), 2859-2863 (2014).</li><li>Gescheider, G. A., Herman, D. D., Phillips, J. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Criterion+shifts+in+the+measurement+of+tactile+masking.">Criterion shifts in the measurement of tactile masking.</a> Percept. Psychophys. 8, 433-436 (1970).</li><li>Iwamura, Y., Tanaka, M., Iriki, A., Taoka, M., Toda, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Processing+of+tactile+and+kinesthetic+signals+from+bilateral+sides+of+the+body+in+the+postcentral+gyrus+of+awake+monkeys.">Processing of tactile and kinesthetic signals from bilateral sides of the body in the postcentral gyrus of awake monkeys.</a> Behav. Brain. Res. 135 (1-2), 185-190 (2002).</li><li>Killackey, H. P., Gould, H. J., Cusick, C. G., Pons, T. P., Kaas, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+relation+of+corpus+callosum+connections+to+architectonic+fields+and+body+surface+maps+in+sensorimotor+cortex+of+new+and+old+world+monkeys.">The relation of corpus callosum connections to architectonic fields and body surface maps in sensorimotor cortex of new and old world monkeys.</a> J. Comp. Neurol. 219 (4), 384-419 (1983).</li><li>Reed, J. L., Qi, H. X., Kaas, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatiotemporal+properties+of+neuron+response+suppression+in+owl+monkey+primary+somatosensory+cortex+when+stimuli+are+presented+to+both+hands.">Spatiotemporal properties of neuron response suppression in owl monkey primary somatosensory cortex when stimuli are presented to both hands.</a> J. Neurosci. 31 (10), 3589-3601 (2011).</li><li>Hlushchuk, Y., Hari, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transient+suppression+of+ipsilateral+primary+somatosensory+cortex+during+tactile+finger+stimulation.">Transient suppression of ipsilateral primary somatosensory cortex during tactile finger stimulation.</a> J. Neurosci. 26 (21), 5819-5824 (2006).</li><li>Nihashi, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Contralateral+and+ipsilateral+responses+in+primary+somatosensory+cortex+following+electrical+median+nerve+stimulation--an+fMRI+study.">Contralateral and ipsilateral responses in primary somatosensory cortex following electrical median nerve stimulation--an fMRI study.</a> Clin. Neurophysiol. 116 (4), 842-848 (2005).</li><li>Tam&#232;, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+contribution+of+primary+and+secondary+somatosensory+cortices+to+the+representation+of+body+parts+and+body+sides:+an+fMRI+adaptation+study.">The contribution of primary and secondary somatosensory cortices to the representation of body parts and body sides: an fMRI adaptation study.</a> J. Cognitive. Neurosci. 24 (12), 2306-2320 (2012).</li><li>Tam&#232;, L., Farn&#232;, A., Pavani, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vision+of+the+body+and+the+differentiation+of+perceived+body+side+in+touch.">Vision of the body and the differentiation of perceived body side in touch.</a> Cortex. 49 (5), 1340-1351 (2013).</li><li>Tam&#232;, L., Pavani, F., Papadelis, C., Farn&#232;, A., Braun, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Early+integration+of+bilateral+touch+in+the+primary+somatosensory+cortex.">Early integration of bilateral touch in the primary somatosensory cortex.</a> Hum. Brain. Mapp. 36 (4), 1506-1523 (2015).</li><li>Gilson, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vibrotactile+masking:+Some+spatial+and+temporal+aspects.">Vibrotactile masking: Some spatial and temporal aspects.</a> Percept. Psychophys. 5 (3), 176-180 (1969).</li><li>Alliusi, E., Morgan, B., Hawkes, G. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Masking+of+cutaneous+sensations+in+multiple+stimulus+presentations.">Masking of cutaneous sensations in multiple stimulus presentations.</a> Percept. Motor. Skill. 20, 39-45 (1965).</li><li>Geldard, F. A., Sherrick, C. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiple+cutaneous+stimulation:+The+discrimination+of+vibratory+patterns.">Multiple cutaneous stimulation: The discrimination of vibratory patterns.</a> J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 37, 797-801 (1965).</li><li>Craig, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vibrotactile+loudness+addition.">Vibrotactile loudness addition.</a> Percept. Psychophys. 1, 185-190 (1966).</li></ol>

Here, a detailed protocol for contralateral tactile masking is described and previously published results using the technique to test tactile detection thresholds are shown. The advantage of this method is that thresholds are measured using a psychophysically rigorous technique. The two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) procedure is relatively insensitive to response bias and therefore from attentional effects. The adaptive staircase procedure for honing in on the actual threshold value is very efficient as most of the da...

Tactile masking is where a tactile stimulus at one location on the body alters the perception of a touch at another location. This is a technique pioneered by von Bekesy1to reveal location interactions, especially lateral inhibition, between areas of skin that are adjacent on the body surface. While tactile masking has been studied extensively over the years, research has mainly investigated ipsilateral tactile masking using electrical stimulation2,3, pressure4, and vibrotactile stimulation5,6. In contrast, few studies have looked at contralateral tactile masking in which the masking and probe sites may be far removed. Long-range tactile masking effects have been shown between mirror-symmetric points on the hand and arm5,7-9but these studies have been largely restricted to looking at the hands and fingers7,10, with more extensive parts of the whole body being largely ignored. A goal of such long-range masking experiments is to indicate how components of the body&#39;s representation in the brain may be functionally linked. Here, the phenomenon of long-range tactile masking is explored by investigating how vibration applied to one forearm might affect tactile sensitivity thresholds on the opposite forearm. Threshold refers to the minimum stimulus that is needed to detect a stimulus. We define this as the intensity at which the stimulus is detected 75% of the time. We used a tactile masking technique in which tactile sensitivity (the reciprocal of threshold) on one forearm is measured in the presence of a vibrating stimulus (the mask) on another part of the body. Effective masking is revealed by an increase in the detection threshold i.e., a reduction in sensitivity. The technique can be used in conjunction with other manipulations such as varying limb position or movement to explore their effects on the effectiveness of masking.
Here we used vibrotactile stimuli as the masking stimulus. The advantage of this is that the frequency, and hence the receptor type that it stimulates can be controlled. The technique could be extended to look at pain using electrical stimuli as the probe or mask or both. Also, any site can be used as the masking site allowing the investigation of acupuncture sites for example.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="673">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">C-2 tactor</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">ATAC Technology; Engineering Acoustics, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:164px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">http://www.atactech.com/PR_tactors.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Magic Wand</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">Hitachi</td>
			<td style="width:164px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">http://magicwandoriginal.com/magic-wand-original/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="105">
			<td height="105" style="height:105px;width:216px;">FC5 Foot Pedals</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">Yamaha Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:164px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">http://ca.yamaha.com/en/products/music-production/accessories/footpedals/fc5/?mode=model</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">MATLAB</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">The Mathworks, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:164px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Velcro</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">Velcro Industries B.V.</td>
			<td style="width:164px;"></td>
			<td>http://www.velcro.com/</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

testing tactile masking between the forearms

Masking, in which one stimulus affects the detection of another, is a classic technique that has been used in visual, auditory, and tactile research, usually using stimuli that are close together to reveal local interactions. Masking effects have also been demonstrated in which a tactile stimulus alters the perception of a touch at a distant location. Such effects can provide insight into how components of the body's representations in the brain may be linked. Occasional reports have indicated that touches on one hand or forearm can affect tactile sensitivity at corresponding contralateral locations. To explore the matching of corresponding points across the body, we can measure the spatial tuning and effect of posture on contralateral masking. Careful controls are required to rule out direct effects of the remote stimulus, for example by mechanical transmission, and also attention effects in which thresholds may be altered by the participant's attention being drawn away from the stimulus of interest. The use of this technique is beneficial as a behavioural measure for exploring which parts of the body are functionally connected and whether the two sides of the body interact in a somatotopic representation. This manuscript describes a behavioural protocol that can be used for studying contralateral tactile masking.

Analyses of the data was reported in13. Tactile sensitivity (expressed relative to the thresholds measured in the control condition) on the forearm was significantly reduced (thresholds were significantly increased) when vibrotactile masking stimulation was applied to the opposite arm (Figure 2A), demonstrating a contralateral masking effect between forearms. The effect depended on the position of the masking stimulus on the masking arm, with the largest effect...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms at JoVE.com

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms

Here we explore contralateral tactile masking between the forearms in which tactile detection thresholds are modulated by vibration applied to a remote site. The details of which remote sites have an effect can tell us about how the body is represented in the brain.

Masking, in which one stimulus affects the detection of another, is a classic technique that has been used in visual, auditory, and tactile research, ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities

Objective and easy measurement of sensory processing is extremely difficult in nonverbal or vulnerable pediatric patients. We developed a new methodology ...

Measurement of Vibration Detection Threshold and Tactile Spatial Acuity in Human Subjects

Tests that allow the precise determination of psychophysical thresholds for vibration and grating orientation provide valuable information about ...

A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits

Stressful life events often increase the incidence of depression in humans. To study the mechanisms of depression, the development of animal models of ...

Comparing the Frequency Effect Between the Lexical Decision and Naming Tasks in Chinese

In psycholinguistic research, the frequency effect can be one of the indicators for eligible experimental tasks that examine the nature of lexical access. ...

Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities

In both the East and West, traditional teachings say that the mind and heart are somehow closely correlated, especially during spiritual practice. One ...

The (Spatial) Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition

The memory game paradigm is a behavioral procedure to explore the relationship between language, spatial memory, and object knowledge. Using two different ...

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Physical activity (PA) assessment needs tools that are inexpensive and easy to administer. Common questionnaires inquire time spent in light, moderate, ...

Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback

The application of incongruent sensory signals that involves disrupted tactile feedback is rarely explored, specifically with the presence of vibrotactile ...

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World

In our continuously developing &#39;around the clock&#39; society, there is a need to increase our understanding of how changes in biology, physiology and ...