Haptic perception of wetness

Abstract

The sensation of wetness is well-known but barely investigated. There are no specific wetness receptors in the skin, but the sensation is mediated by temperature and pressure perception. In our study, we have measured discrimination thresholds for the haptic perception of wetness of three di erent textile materials (thick and thin viscose and cotton) and two ways of touching (static and dynamic). Subjects repeatedly felt two samples of di erent wetness and had to say which was the wetter. Discrimination thresholds ranged from 0.5–1.4 ml. There was no significant di erence between the two methods of touch. There was a significant e ect of material: discrimination was better in the thinner material (thin viscose). This suggests that discrimination depends on relative water content in the materials, but not on how they are touched.