Tactile spatial anisotropy with static stimulation

Tactile discrimination of stimulus-orientation discrepancy from standard or referent vertical, horizontal, and diagonal orientations was investigated. A two-alternative forced-choice paradigm was used in which stimuli were presented statically to the distal pads of subjects’ right and left index fingers. The results from the present experiment were consistent with previous work employing dynamic tactile stimulation in which a similar and substantial oblique effect was obtained. Specifically, comparison orientations were discriminated more accurately with less deviation from standard vertical and horizontal stimulus orientations than from standard right- and left-diagonal stimulus orientations. The results are discussed in terms of likely underlying sensory mechanisms.

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