A topographical and physiological exploration of C-tactile afferents and their response to menthol and histamine
Line S. Löken, Helena Backlund Wasling, Håkan Olausson, Francis McGlone, Johan Wessberg
Abstract
Unmyelinated tactile (CT) afferents are abundant in arm hairy skin and are thought to signal features of social affective touch. We show that CTs are also present but are relatively sparse in the lower leg compared with C-nociceptors. CTs display similar physiological properties across the arm and leg nerves. Furthermore, CT afferents do not respond to the cooling agent menthol or the pruritogen histamine, and their mechanical response properties are not altered by these chemicals.
Topics & Concepts
HistamineMentholNeuroscienceNociceptorTactile stimuliNociceptionChemistryPsychologySensory systemCommunicationMedicinePharmacologyReceptorOrganic chemistryBiochemistryTactile and Sensory InteractionsNeural dynamics and brain functionOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies