Tactile Localization and Adaptation

Hypothesis

The smallest error of localization will occur on the fingertips and the largest error of localization will occur on the anterior forearm considering the sizes of the receptive fields.

Testing Tactile Localization Chart

Questions

Did the ability to localize the stimulus tend to improve, stay the same or get less accurate on the second and third trials? Was this pattern the same for all areas of the body? 

In this experiment, the ability did not improve consistently. In the case of fingertip error 2, it did improve but then increased on trial 3. This was similar to other body areas where the second trial was better than the 1st, but the third trial was higher than the 2nd. Besides, there is no improvement to be made when each trial is the same.

Which area had the smallest error of localization based on the averages of the three trials? Which area had the largest? 

The fingertips had the smallest error of localization and the anterior forearm had the largest error of localization.

Do the averages of the three trials support or refute your hypothesis?  Explain your reasoning. 

The data supports my hypothesis. Since the area of the forearm is much larger than the fingertip, it was harder for the participant to locate the touch with accuracy.

Demonstrating Adaptation

Questions

Are the same receptors being stimulated when the four coins, rather than the one coin, being used?

The same receptors are being stimulated. With four coins, the duration of sensation by the receptors is just longer. 

Explain how the perception of the stimulus intensity has changed.

The perception of the stimulus intensity changed when going from one coin to four coins. With one coin, the stimulus intensity was weaker than four causing less impulses to fire. With four coins, the pressure causes a longer duration of sensation.