Discrimination of the moving direction is improved depending on the pattern of the mechanical tactile stimulation intervention.

Abstract

Background: The mechanical tactile stimulation, such as plastic pins and airflow-driven membrane, induces cortical activity. The cortical activity depends on the mechanical tactile stimulation pattern. Therefore, the stimulation pattern of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention may influence its effect on the somatosensory function. However, the effect of the mechanical tactile stimulation input pattern on the somatosensory function has not yet been investigated at the behavioral level. The present study aimed to clarify the effects of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention with different stimulation patterns on the ability to discriminate moving directions.

Results: Twenty healthy adults participated in the experiment. Three conditions were used for mechanical tactile stimuli intervention: (1) the whole stimulus surface was stimulated, (2) the stimulus moved within the stimulus surface, and (3) a no-stimulus condition. The effects of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention on tactile discrimination were evaluated using a simple reaction task and a choice reaction task to discriminate the movement direction. Reaction time, correct rate, and rate correct score were calculated to measure task performance. We examined the effects of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention on the ability to discriminate the moving direction for a certain period under three intervention conditions. The results showed that the mean reaction time during the simple reaction task did not differ significantly before and after the intervention under all intervention conditions. Similarly, we compared the data obtained before and after the intervention during the choice reaction task. Our results revealed that the mean reaction time and correct rate did not differ significantly under vertical and horizontal conditions. However, the rate correct score showed a significant improvement after the horizontal moving tactile stimulation intervention under both vertical and horizontal conditions.

Conclusions: Our results showed that the effect of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention on mechanical tactile stimulation moving direction discrimination function depended on the input pattern of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention. Our results suggest the potential therapeutic benefits of sustained tactile stimulation intervention. This study revealed that it is possible to change behavioral levels via mechanical tactile stimuli intervention as well as the potential of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention in the field of rehabilitation.