Representations of fabric hand attributes in the cerebral cortices based on the Automated Anatomical Labeling atlas

Abstract

Fabric hand is most frequently used by consumers and researchers to evaluate the touch feeling of textiles. Academically, many methods have been developed to characterize it psychologically and physically, and the relationship between the hand attributes of fabrics and their physical properties are well understood. However, in physiological terms, the cognitive mechanism of the brain on different attributes of fabric hand is not clear. Previous studies have shown that the sensory or discrimination information from fabric touch can be detected by the technology of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this study, further fMRI experiments were carried out, attempting to find the relationship between the cerebral cortices of various brain areas and different hand attributes of fabrics. The subtle atlas of Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL) was used to display and analyze the blood oxygenation level dependent signals completely and conveniently. The results showed that when the subjects touched two samples with distinct fabric hand in a specified way, activation information and the index of the mean signal in every related brain areas can distinguish them, and several brain regions in the AAL atlas are linked to different fabric hand attributes. The technology of fMRI was proved again to be a promising tool for studying the cognitive mechanism of the brain on fabric touch.

Analysis of brain functional response to cutaneous prickling stimulation by single fiber

“…One of the most recognized software toolkits, SPM12 (developed by members & collaborators of the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, London, UK; http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm), was adopted to process the anatomical and functional brain data of the participants acquired from the MRI scanner. The method and procedure of the data preprocessing are in accord with the previous study, 14 and statistical analysis was carried out using the general linear model 17 . Finally, after doing group analysis of one‐sample t test for all participants’ fMRI data, activation information in brain regions was acquired.…”

“…6,8 Although mechanical causes from the stimuli (fiber ends) and physiological principle of the cutaneous receptors (evoked activity of nociceptors) have been both well understood, the brain mechanism for perceiving fabric-evoked prickle is still unclear. Previously, using the technology of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we analyzed the response signal of the brain on the tactile stimulation of fabric by finger touch, 14,15 showing that fMRI is a promising tool for studying the cognitive mechanism of the brain on the mechanical stimulation of fabric touch on the skin. Moreover, through comparing the brain activity evoked by fabric touch on human glabrous (palm) and hairy skin (forearm), 16 we found that there is more emotional information arising from fabric touch on the hairy skin (forearm), and brain activity in the insula cortex is an important information for the evaluation of fabric comfort.…”

Tactile perception of textile fabrics based on friction and brain activation

“…fMRI technology measures brain activity by detecting changes of blood flow associated with tactile perception with a high spatial resolution [18]. fMRI technology has been used to investigate the brain functional response to the cutaneous prickling of fiber [19] and the surface roughness of fabric [20], the primary brain regions related to the fabric hand [21], and the fabric comfort perception [22]. The previous studies have proved that fMRI is a remarkable tool to study the cognitive mechanism of the brain on the mechanical stimulation of fabric on human skin.…”