The Functional Diversity of Mammalian Touch Receptors
January 2016
in “
Columbia Academic Commons (Columbia University)
”
TLDR Mammalian touch receptors have evolved to detect different features, enhancing our ability to perform various tasks and interact socially.
The document explored the evolution and functional diversity of mammalian touch receptors, emphasizing their essential role in various human activities, from basic tasks to complex social interactions. It highlighted the diverse receptor types in the skin that detect different features of objects, supporting the idea proposed by Maximillian von Frey in 1895 that morphological diversity in neural endings could indicate functional specificity. The study discussed how the evolution of diverse receptor structures has enhanced the somatosensory functions of the skin, shaping the function of touch reception at both cellular and organismal levels.
