Abstract
DRAWING the finger tips across a smooth surface usually induces sensations of pressure, warmth or cold, and roughness or smoothness. Any abrupt discontinuity is easily felt: it has been claimed that eminences no higher than 0.001 mm etched on to smooth glass can be detected, provided some movement of the finger tips is permitted1. We describe here an effect which does not seem to have been reported previously, even though we think that it must be familiar to certain craftsmen.
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References
Geldard, F. A., The Human Senses (Wiley, New York, 1953).
Talbot, W. H., Darian-Smith, I., Kornhuber, H. H., and Mountcastle, V. B., J. Neurophysiol., 31, 301–334 (1968).
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GORDON, I., COOPER, C. Improving one's touch. Nature 256, 203–204 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/256203a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/256203a0
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