Vibrissa Movement, Sensation and Sensorimotor Control

Rats sweep their vibrissae through space to locate objects in their immediate environment. In essence, their view of the proximal world is generated through pliable hairs that tap and palpate objects. The texture and shape of those objects must be discerned for the rat to assess their value. Further, the location of those objects must be specified with reference to the position of the rat’s head for the rat to plan its future movements. This article reviews the nature of the sensors and motor plant that govern whisking, along with the neuronal circuitry and signaling that underlie vibrissae-based sensation and sensorimotor control.

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