The quality of skin affects how much tactile sensitivity is lost with age. The researchers found that this loss can be as much as 50 percent between 25 and 66 years. The scientists obtained the results through the use of micro-neurography, a technique that identifies a skin receptor and tracks its activity through a microelectrode. The microelectrode picks up the FM message sent to the brain, and the signal is then amplified.
Some receptors react to temperature while others react to pressure.
The work of the scientists has demonstrated that the loss of tactile sensitivity with age is associated with the condition of the skin's surface. Archives - Archives of past weeks' Daily Selected News Stories. All Rights Reserved. All other copyrights remain property of their respective owners.