Neural mechanisms of spatial tactile perception

This is an MRC CASE studentship, co-funded with NTT Basic Research Labs, Japan. The primary supervisor is Prof Patrick Haggard. The project will investigate how people perceive the direction of tactile motions. There is large neurophysiological literature on touch, but few studies have considered perception of a single stimulus moving across the skin. The student will examine how the human brain determines the direction of movement of two classes of tactile stimuli. The first involves a single stimulus moving gradually across the palm, while the second involves a force pulse applied to the skin of several digits simultaneously. In each case, the student will combine psychophysical experiments with healthy human volunteers, with computational neurophysiological models of how mechanoreceptors transduce stimulus energy, and how the brain codes and integrates mechanoreceptive signals. Some neuroimaging studies of the cortical circuits involved in somatosensory spatial perception may be possible. These convergent methods will lead to an understanding of how tactile stimuli can produce a percept of spatial direction, potentially leading to communication devices based such as a ‘tactile compass’.

The project will involve at least one extended research period of several months at NTT Basic Research Labs in Japan, so a willingness to travel and an interest in international collaboration is essential.

The project requires understanding and ability in both studies of human perception (psychophysics) and engineering (mechanical or bio-engineering). The ideal student would have some experience of both fields.
MRC regulations apply to this studentship, including regulations on eligibility through UK residence. Thus, the project is available to UK nationals or EU nationals. EU nationals can only be considered if they have been normally in UK for three years preceding the start date. Unfortunately applications from non-EU nationals cannot be considered
.
The anticipated start date is 1st October 2017, but an earlier start date may be possible.

Further information and informal enquiries to [Email Address Removed].