Human touch sensitive enough to learn molecular differences, find scientists

New Delhi : The human touch is sensitive enough to learn a molecular change, said scientists including one from India. Humans can easily feel the difference between many everyday surfaces such as glass, metal, wood and plastic.

Since the products have the different texture or heat drawing capability, it becomes easy for us to differentiate the products. But, scientists wanted to learn if human touch can detect things if one layer of molecules is removed or changed.

"This is the greatest tactile sensitivity that has ever been shown in humans," said Darren Lipomi, a professor at University of California (UC) San Diego in the US.

"Receptors processing sensations from our skin are phylogenetically the most ancient, but far from being primitive they have had time to evolve extraordinarily subtle strategies for discerning surfaces," said V S Ramachandran, from UC San Diego. 

"This study is one of the first to demonstrate the range of sophistication and exquisite sensitivity of tactile sensations. It paves the way, perhaps, for a whole new approach to tactile psychophysics," Ramachandran said.