article · 19/09/2025
Soft cavity model for touch mechanoreceptors under static and sliding contact
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Résumé
We mimic the mechanical response of touch mechanoreceptors by that of a gas cavity embedded in an elastic semicylinder, as a fingertip analog. Using tribological experiments combined with optical imaging, we measure the dynamics and deformation of the cavity as the semicylinder is put in static contact or slid against model rough surfaces at constant normal force and velocity. We propose an elastic model to predict the cavity deformation under normal load showing that membrane mechanical stresses are anisotropic and we discuss its possible biological consequences. In friction experiments, we show that the cavity shape fluctuations allow for texture discriminations.
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Tapie, P., Barreiros Scatamburlo, D., Chateauminois, A., & Wandersman, E. (2025). Soft cavity model for touch mechanoreceptors under static and sliding contact. Physical Review E, 112, 034407. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1103/ybvc-jvhn@article{Tapie2025_477,
author = {Tapie, Pierre and Barreiros Scatamburlo, Diogo and Chateauminois, Antoine and Wandersman, Elie},
year = {2025},
month = {9},
title = {Soft cavity model for touch mechanoreceptors under static and sliding contact},
journal = {Physical Review E},
volume = {112},
pages = {034407},
abstract = {We mimic the mechanical response of touch mechanoreceptors by that of a gas cavity embedded in an elastic
semicylinder, as a fingertip analog. Using tribological experiments combined with optical imaging, we measure
the dynamics and deformation of the cavity as the semicylinder is put in static contact or slid against model rough
surfaces at constant normal force and velocity. We propose an elastic model to predict the cavity deformation
under normal load showing that membrane mechanical stresses are anisotropic and we discuss its possible
biological consequences. In friction experiments, we show that the cavity shape fluctuations allow for texture
discriminations.},
url = {https://journals.aps.org/pre/pdf/10.1103/ybvc-jvhn},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1103/ybvc-jvhn},
}TY - JOUR
AU - Tapie, Pierre
AU - Barreiros Scatamburlo, Diogo
AU - Chateauminois, Antoine
AU - Wandersman, Elie
PY - 2025
DA - 2025/09/19
TI - Soft cavity model for touch mechanoreceptors under static and sliding contact
JO - Physical Review E
VL - 112
AB - We mimic the mechanical response of touch mechanoreceptors by that of a gas cavity embedded in an elastic semicylinder, as a fingertip analog. Using tribological experiments combined with optical imaging, we measure the dynamics and deformation of the cavity as the semicylinder is put in static contact or slid against model rough surfaces at constant normal force and velocity. We propose an elastic model to predict the cavity deformation under normal load showing that membrane mechanical stresses are anisotropic and we discuss its possible biological consequences. In friction experiments, we show that the cavity shape fluctuations allow for texture discriminations.
SP - 034407
DO - https://doi.org/10.1103/ybvc-jvhn
UR - https://journals.aps.org/pre/pdf/10.1103/ybvc-jvhn
ER -