Dataset Information

Perception of partial slips under tangential loading of the fingertip.

ABSTRACT: During tactile exploration, partial slips occur systematically at the periphery of fingertip-object contact prior to full slip. Although the mechanics of partial slips are well characterized, the perception of such events is unclear. Here, we performed psychophysical experiments to assess partial slip detection ability on smooth transparent surfaces. In these experiments, the index fingertip of human subjects was stroked passively by a smooth, transparent glass plate while we imaged the contact slipping against the glass. We found that subjects were able to detect fingertip slip before full slip occurred when, on average, only 48% of the contact area was slipping. Additionally, we showed that partial slips and plate displacement permitted slip detection, but that the subjects could not rely on tangential force to detect slipping of the plate. Finally, we observed that, keeping the normal contact force constant, slip detection was impeded when the plate was covered with a hydrophobic coating dramatically lowering the contact friction and therefore the amount of fingertip deformation. Together, these results demonstrate that partial slips play an important role in fingertip slip detection and support the hypothesis that the central nervous system relies on them to adjust grip force during object manipulation.

SUBMITTER: Barrea A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5935679 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Perception of partial slips under tangential loading of the fingertip.

Barrea Allan A Delhaye Benoit P BP Lefèvre Philippe P Thonnard Jean-Louis JL

Scientific reports 20180504 1

During tactile exploration, partial slips occur systematically at the periphery of fingertip-object contact prior to full slip. Although the mechanics of partial slips are well characterized, the perception of such events is unclear. Here, we performed psychophysical experiments to assess partial slip detection ability on smooth transparent surfaces. In these experiments, the index fingertip of human subjects was stroked passively by a smooth, transparent glass plate while we imaged the contact ...[more]

PMID: 29728576

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Project description:Viscoelasticity is a fundamental property of virtually all biological materials, and proteinaceous, fibrous materials that constitute the extracellular matrix (ECM) are no exception. Viscoelasticity may be particularly important in the ECM since cells can apply mechanical stress resulting from cell contractility over very long periods of time. However, measurements of ECM fiber response to long-term constant force loading are scarce, despite the increasing recognition that mechanical strain regulates the biological function of some ECM fibers. We developed a dual micropipette system that applies constant force to single fibers for up to 8?h. We utilized this system to study the time dependent response of fibronectin (Fn) fibers to constant force, as Fn fibers exhibit tremendous extensibility before mechanical failure as well as strain dependent alterations in biological properties. These data demonstrate the Fn fibers continue to stretch under constant force loading for at least 8?h and that this long-term creep results in plastic deformation of Fn fibers, in contrast to elastic deformation of Fn fibers under short-term, but fast loading rate extension. These data demonstrate that physiologically-relevant loading may impart mechanical features to Fn fibers by switching them into an extended state that may have altered biological functions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Measurements of extracellular matrix (ECM) fiber response to constant force loading are scarce, so we developed a novel technique for applying constant force to single ECM fibers. We used this technique to measure constant force creep of fibronectin fibers since these fibers have been shown to be mechanotransducers whose functions can be altered by mechanical strain. We found that fibronectin fibers creep under constant force loading for the duration of the experiment and that this creep behavior resembles a power law. Furthermore, we found that constant force creep results in plastic deformation of the fibers, which suggests that the mechanobiological switching of fibronectin can only occur once after long-term loading.

Dataset Information

Perception of partial slips under tangential loading of the fingertip.

Publications

Perception of partial slips under tangential loading of the fingertip.

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