How the Brain Responds to Texture

New research from the University of Chicago Medical Center reveals the intricate way our brains process texture. Neurons in the somatosensory cortex, the brain's touch center, each respond differently to various features of a surface. Some neurons react to coarse textures, others to fine details, and some to complex combinations. This diverse neural activity creates a "high-dimensional representation" of texture, allowing us to distinguish between a wide range of sensations, from rough to smooth and everything in between. This complex system is what enables our remarkably sensitive sense of touch.