How does the two-point discrimination threshold demonstrate the size of receptor fields in the skin?

What will be an ideal response?


In the two-point discrimination threshold test, two stimuli (such as calipers or application sticks) are placed close together on the skin. The calipers are moved increasingly apart until the subject can feel two distinct points. Different regions of the skin contain neurons with receptive fields of varying size. The more neurons that populate an area of skin, the smaller the receptive field will be. Thus, the smaller the receptive field, the smaller the distance between the two points that a subject can detect using the two-point discrimination threshold test.

Anatomy & Physiology

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Anatomy & Physiology