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Measuring Tactile Distance Perception

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Somatosensory Research Methods

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 196))

Abstract

Illusions of tactile distance have been studied since the start of scientific research on the sense of touch in the nineteenth century. In the past 15 years, these illusions have become increasingly popular among researchers due to their connections with basic aspects of somatosensory neurophysiology, higher-level aspects of mental body representation, and relation to clinical disorders. This chapter will discuss methods for measuring tactile distance perception, focusing on two broad classes of methods. One type of method involves making estimates of the distance between a single pair of touches applied to the skin. The other method involves making a judgment about the relative distance between two such pairs. These methods can be applied to a range of experimental designs, body parts, and experimental conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK

    Matthew R. Longo

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  1. Matthew R. Longo
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Correspondence to Matthew R. Longo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Nicholas Paul Holmes

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Longo, M.R. (2023). Measuring Tactile Distance Perception. In: Holmes, N.P. (eds) Somatosensory Research Methods. Neuromethods, vol 196. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3068-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3068-6_5

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3067-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3068-6

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