Topic: whisker deformation

Texture is a ubiquitous tactile feature encompassing multiple dimensions of surface properties, including coarseness and slipperiness. In the rodent whisker system – a model for active tactile exploration with sensitivity comparable to the primate fingertip – texture sensing occurs through whisking against or dragging the whiskers across surfaces. Deformations induced by the whisker-surface interaction create stresses in the whisker, which propagate to the follicle and are encoded by follicle-innervating primary mechanosensory neurons. These deformations may comprise combinations of bending, t