Physical Factors Influencing Pleasant Touch during Tactile Exploration

摘要: Background: When scanning surfaces, humans perceive some of their physical attributes. These percepts are frequently accompanied by a sensation (un)pleasantness. We therefore hypothesized that aspects the mechanical activity induced surfaces with fingertips could be objectively associated pleasantness sensation. Previously, we developed unidimensional measure pleasantness, Pleasant Touch Scale, quantifying level 37 different materials. Findings this study suggested was influenced average magnitude frictional forces brought about sliding finger on surface, and surface topography. In present study, correlated (i) characteristics fluctuations resulting from interaction between asperities as well (ii) friction pleasantness. Results: Eight blindfolded participants tactually explored twelve materials Scale through lateral movements index fingertip. During exploration, normal tangential force components, fN fT, fingertip trajectory were measured. The effect investigated analysis ratio fT to fN, i.e. net coefficient kinetic friction, m. influence topographies rapid in spatial frequency domain. Results showed high values m anticorrelated Furthermore, having higher amplitudes low range than one judged less pleasant yielding evenly distributed throughout whole Conclusion: Characteristics taking place during can reliably surfaces.