Touch

A tout instant, quoi que nous fassions, nous sommes environnés par des corps qui réduisent l’espace et opposent de la résistance. Que sont ces corps qui saturent notre quotidien et avec lesquels il nous faut constamment négocier l’espace ? Plus radicalement, pourquoi y a-t-il des corps ? Je soutiens dans cet ouvrage que la psychologie et la physique ne disposent plus des moyens de répondre à cette question. La désubstantialisation du réel amorcée par la révolution quantique sape les fondements de l’explication objectiviste de la perception privilégiée par la première, et elle évide de sa portée ontologique le discours de la seconde.
Expliquer pourquoi la réalité se présente sous la forme d’un agencement de corps exige en premier lieu de comprendre le rôle que remplit l’anticipation du possible dans la perception. Dans le toucher comme dans la vision, poser l’existence d’un corps implique d’anticiper les contraintes que ce corps exerce sur notre champ de possibilités pratiques, accréditer de manière présomptive la disponibilité ou l’indisponibilité de certaines possibilités d’action. C’est donc uniquement parce que notre subjectivité donne sens à ce qui est en le référant à ce qui peut être que la réalité macroscopique à laquelle nous introduit la perception consiste en un monde solide.
Pour développer cette idée, l’ouvrage dresse une critique de la conception actualiste du phénomène de corps, qui subordonne celui-ci à l’expérience en acte d’une résistance, et il déconstruit l’approche physicaliste et objectiviste, qui prétend dériver les propriétés des corps que nous percevons des propriétés de structures physiques qui leur seraient antécédentes ontologiquement. Si la sémantique des corps présuppose l’épaisseur du temps humain et une perspective foncièrement pragmatique sur l’environnement, il n’est plus question d’assimiler sans autre forme de procès le corps à une « structure physique », quelle qu’en soit la teneur. Les corps sont un produit de l’activité constructrice de notre subjectivité, et seule une incursion profonde dans les mécanismes et principes qui régissent cette activité pourra permettre d’accéder à leur vérité.

Whilst dysfunction of basal ganglia-thalamic circuitry is implicated in the genesis of parkinsonian symptomatology, few studies have examined the effects of lesioning the motor thalamus in the context of parkinsonism. Forty rats were therefore subdivided into four lesion groups each of 10 rats with lesions or sham surgery targeting (1) the medial forebrain bundle and/or (2) motor thalamus, resulting in: Sham/Sham, 6-OHDA/Sham, Sham/NMDA and 6-OHDA/NMDA groups. Behavioural testing was performed prior to any surgery and after each surgery including analysis of posture, drug-induced rotation, sensorimotor and autonomic deficits. As expected 6-OHDA lesions induced abnormalities in posture, locomotion, sensorimotor and pilomotor function, ipsilateral and contralateral rotational asymmetries after amphetamine and apomorphine, respectively. These behavioural changes reflect parkinsonism in this model. Additional thalamic lesions virtually abolished apomorphine-induced rotational asymmetry and improved sensorimotor response latency to tactile stimulation on the contralateral side. These data support the contribution of dysfunctional motor thalamic circuitry in rotational asymmetry and abnormal sensorimotor function in parkinsonian rats.

This paper reviews research on deaf-blind individuals, primarily from behavioral and communicative points of view. Inclusion in the population of deaf-blind is qualified by describing a variety of subgroups and genetically based syndromes associated with deaf-blindness. Sensory assessment procedures--based primarily on residual capacities--are appraised. Consequences for everyday life are described briefly. Non-sensory, alternative classificatory schemes and procedures are presented and the results from behavior modification procedures used for correcting maladaptive behaviors are summarized. Methods for communicating tactilely are described and evaluated. Attention is also drawn to some suggestions regarding learning of alphabetic codes and sign acquisition. Finally, suggestions for future research are proposed.

Touch (or tactile) sensors are gaining renewed interest as the level of sophistication in the application of minimum invasive surgery and humanoid robots increases. The spatial resolution of current large-area (greater than 1 cm 2 ) tactile sensor lags by more than an order of magnitude compared with the human finger. By using metal and semiconducting nanoparticles, a ∼100-nm-thick, large-area thin-film device is self-assembled such that the change in current density through the film and the electroluminescent light intensity are linearly proportional to the local stress. A stress image is obtained by pressing a copper grid and a United States 1-cent coin on the device and focusing the resulting electroluminescent light directly on the charge-coupled device. Both the lateral and height resolution of texture are comparable to the human finger at similar stress levels of ∼10 kilopascals.

Musician's brains constitute an interesting model for neuroplasticity. Imaging studies demonstrated that sensorimotor cortical representations are altered in musicians, which was assumed to arise from the development of skilled performance. However, the perceptual consequences of ...

Front matter and Preface to Touching, Devotional Practices, and Visionary Experience in the Late Middle Ages. This preface explore relations between touching and affective piety and the relation between affect as a cultural force and the senses. Juxtaposing the artwork of Gonzalez Torres to the definitions and applications of affective piety, frames the content of the edited volume.

The development of a bio-hybrid tactile sensor array that incorporates a skin analogue comprised of alginate encapsulated fibroblasts is described. The electrical properties are modulated by mechanical stress induced during contact, and changes are detected by a ten-channel dual-electrode impedance sensing array. By continuously monitoring the impedance of the sensor array at a fixed frequency, whilst normal and tangential loads are applied to the skin surface, transient mechanotransduction has been observed. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the preliminary prototype bio-hybrid tactile sensor.

The aim of this study was to investigate in humans whether brain regions activated by the affective aspects of touch could be found. It is known that after the primary somatosensory cortical area (SI), the somatosensory pathways continue to the insula and orbitofrontal cortex, and via both these struc-tures to the amygdala [1卤4]. It is not known where in this

Online shopping for fashion has seen explosive growth in recent times but the sector still faces the challenge of translating the in-store experience to the online environment. Clothing has been classified as a high-involvement product category that needs to be seen, tried on and touched to be evaluated (Workman, 2010) and the lack of tactile input online presents a challenge for retailers. Although fashion is a growing category in e-commerce, returns rates are currently around 25% and represent a significant cost to the business (Retail Week, 2012). Developments in digital technologies and new user interfaces go some way towards translating the in-store experience to the online environment, through object interactivity, virtual try-on, mix and match function etc. Such image interactivity technology (IIT) enables consumers to manipulate product images on a retailer's website (Fiore et al, 2005). This provides enriched product information for the user (Merle et al, 2012) and thus...

This is a study of differences in physical contact and tactile interpersonal behaviours between Hispanic and Anglo mothers and infants living in the United States. Infants were 9 months old and 52 mother-infant dyads, 26 Hispanic and 26 Anglo, were videotaped during free play without toys in a university laboratory playroom. Coders judged the interpersonal distance, physical contact and affectionate touch from the videotapes and mothers responded to a questionnaire about the importance of physical contact and affectionate ...

To determine the efficacy of an in-office desensitizing paste containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate relative to that of a commercially-available pumice prophylaxis paste in reducing dentin hypersensitivity instantly after a single application following a dental scaling procedure and to establish the duration of sensitivity relief over a period of 4 weeks and 12 weeks. This was a single-center, parallel group, double-blind, stratified clinical study conducted in San Francisco, California, USA. Qualifying adult male and female subjects who presented two hypersensitive teeth with a tactile hypersensitivity score (Yeaple Probe) between 10-50 grams of force and an air blast hypersensitivity score of 2 or 3 (Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale) were stratified according to their baseline hypersensitivity scores and randomly assigned within strata to one of two treatment groups: (1) A Test Paste, a desensitizing paste containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate (Colgate-Palmolive Co)...

BackgroundThe development of modern surgical simulators is highly challenging, as they must support complex simulation environments. The demand for higher realism in such simulators has driven researchers to adopt physics-based models, which are computationally very demanding. This poses a major problem, since real-time interactions must permit graphical updates of 30 Hz and a much higher rate of 1 kHz for force feedback (haptics). Recently several physics engines have been developed which offer multi-physics simulation capabilities, including rigid and deformable bodies, cloth and fluids. While such physics engines provide unique opportunities for the development of surgical simulators, their higher latencies, compared to what is necessary for real-time graphics and haptics, offer significant barriers to their use in interactive simulation environments.The development of modern surgical simulators is highly challenging, as they must support complex simulation environments. The demand for higher realism in such simulators has driven researchers to adopt physics-based models, which are computationally very demanding. This poses a major problem, since real-time interactions must permit graphical updates of 30 Hz and a much higher rate of 1 kHz for force feedback (haptics). Recently several physics engines have been developed which offer multi-physics simulation capabilities, including rigid and deformable bodies, cloth and fluids. While such physics engines provide unique opportunities for the development of surgical simulators, their higher latencies, compared to what is necessary for real-time graphics and haptics, offer significant barriers to their use in interactive simulation environments.MethodsIn this work, we propose solutions to this problem and demonstrate how a multimodal surgical simulation environment may be developed based on NVIDIA's PhysX physics library. Hence, models that are undergoing relatively low-frequency updates in PhysX can exist in an environment that demands much higher frequency updates for haptics. We use a collision handling layer to interface between the physical response provided by PhysX and the haptic rendering device to provide both real-time tissue response and force feedback.In this work, we propose solutions to this problem and demonstrate how a multimodal surgical simulation environment may be developed based on NVIDIA's PhysX physics library. Hence, models that are undergoing relatively low-frequency updates in PhysX can exist in an environment that demands much higher frequency updates for haptics. We use a collision handling layer to interface between the physical response provided by PhysX and the haptic rendering device to provide both real-time tissue response and force feedback.ResultsOur simulator integrates a bimanual haptic interface for force feedback and per-pixel shaders for graphics realism in real time. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we present the simulation of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedure as a case study.Our simulator integrates a bimanual haptic interface for force feedback and per-pixel shaders for graphics realism in real time. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we present the simulation of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedure as a case study.ConclusionsTo develop complex and realistic surgical trainers with realistic organ geometries and tissue properties demands stable physics-based deformation methods, which are not always compatible with the interaction level required for such trainers. We have shown that combining different modelling strategies for behaviour, collision and graphics is possible and desirable. Such multimodal environments enable suitable rates to simulate the major steps of the LAGB procedure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.To develop complex and realistic surgical trainers with realistic organ geometries and tissue properties demands stable physics-based deformation methods, which are not always compatible with the interaction level required for such trainers. We have shown that combining different modelling strategies for behaviour, collision and graphics is possible and desirable. Such multimodal environments enable suitable rates to simulate the major steps of the LAGB procedure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The life cycle of sucking, swallowing and breathing has causes and consequences, the purpose of this document is to provide and disseminate it. It is written to respond to step mothers and some health professionals. El ciclo vital de succión, deglución y respiración tiene causas y consecuencias, el proposito de éste documento es el de dar a conocerlo y difundirlo. Esta escrito para dar respuestas a las madres y de paso a algunos profesionales de la salud.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate visceral sensitivity and psychologic profiles in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Study design: We measured visceral perception in the stomach and in the rectum by using an electronic barostat. Psychologic questionnaires were completed. Ten children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP)(8 female, mean age 11.3 ± 0.8 years), 10 children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (8 female, mean age 13.0 ± 0.9 years), and 15 control children (8 female, mean age 12.7 ± 1.2 years) completed the study. Results: Thresholds for visceral perception in the rectum were decreased in patients with IBS (P < .001 vs control patients) and in patients with RAP (P < .05 vs control patients). Children with IBS had lower thresholds than children with RAP (P < .01). In contrast, thresholds for perception were decreased in the stomach of children with RAP (P < .005 vs control patients) but not in children with IBS. There were elevated anxiety scores in 45% of patients. Duration of symptoms was associated with higher scores of anxiety (P < .001) and depression (P < .02). Conclusions: Hyperalgesia was demonstrated in children with RAP and IBS; sites of hyperalgesia appear to be associated with different symptom phenotypes; anxiety was common, and there was an association between the duration of symptoms and increased scores for both anxiety and depression. (J Pediatr 2001;139:838–43)

We investigated the modulation of the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) elicited by mechanical stimuli in a spatial sustained attention and a spatial trial-by-trial cueing design by means of high density electrode array EEG recordings. Subjects were instructed to detect rare tactile target stimuli at the to-be-attended hand while ignoring stimuli at the other hand. Analysis of the SEP revealed a highly complex pattern of results. The P50 component was significantly increased for attended stimuli in the sustained attention as opposed to the trial-by-trial cueing condition. However, no difference in amplitude was found for attended as opposed to unattended stimuli. High density electrode array recordings revealed a centero-frontal N140 component (N140c), which preceded the parietal N140 (N140p) by about 20 ms. The N140c exhibited an attention effect in particular in the trial-by-trial spatial cueing condition. The N140p was significantly enlarged with attention across both experime...