Effects of Tactile Sensitivity on Structural Variability of Digit Forces during Stable Precision Grip

Ke Li
Na Wei
Shouwei Yue

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Publication date

January 2016

DOI

10.1155/2016/8314561

Publisher

Hindawi Limited

ISSN

2314-6133

Journal

2314-6141

Citation count (estimate)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of fingertip tactile sensitivity on the structural variability of thumb and index finger forces during stable precision grip. Thirty right-handed healthy subjects participated in the experiment. Transient perturbation of tactile afferents was achieved by wrapping up the distal pads of the thumb or index finger with transparent polyethylene films. The time-dependent structure of each digit force and the variability of interdigit force correlation were examined by detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA), respectively. Results showed that the tactile sensitivity affected αDFA of the vertical shear force Fx (F3,239 = 6.814, p<0.001) and αDCCA of Fx (χ2 = 16.440, p<...