The nature of the dependence of the latent period of the tactile-motor response on the intensity and duration of the tactile stimulus

Context and relevance. The nature of conscious sensation and the mechanisms of its formation are one of the fundamental problems of psychology and psychophysiology of perception. Objective: to reveal the nature of the dependence of the latency period of the tactile-motor reaction on the intensity and duration of the tactile stimulus in a psychophysiological experiment, as well as to measure the main parameters of the tactile-motor reaction — the tactile threshold with the corresponding value of the latency period of the reaction. Hypothesis. The nature of the dependence of the latency period of the tactile-motor reaction on the intensity of tactile pressure is described by a logarithmic equation and is consistent with the basic psychophysical law of Weber-Fechner. Methods and materials. A tactile stimulus (actuator with Frey hairs) was applied to the area of the pad of the first phalanx of the little finger of the right hand, after which the main parameters of the tactile-motor response (TMR) were measured in response to tactile stimuli of varying intensity and duration. Results. It was found that the latency period of the TMR within the studied range of stimulus duration (20 ms and 40 ms) at a rate of increase of 0.122 N·s does not depend on its duration and is determined only by the magnitude of tactile pressure. The threshold sensation (pad of the first phalanx of the little finger) manifests itself at a tactile pressure of 525 kPa at a tactile stimulation rate of 0.122 N·s and is characterized by a TMR latency period of 291—312 ms. Conclusions. The nature of the dependence of the TMR latency period on the intensity of the tactile stimulus (tactile pressure) is described by a logarithmic equation with a high coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.98 ÷ 0.99) and, within the studied “stimulus-response” range, is consistent with Weber-Fechner basic psychophysical law.

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