Somatosensory Processing Near the Threshold of Perception

In this project I utilize EEG to investigate the neural correlate of tactile perception and how the brain processes stimuli below the perceptual threshold. Previous EEG studies applied weak near-threshold stimuli to the finger in a tactile detection paradigm to address this question. Researchers found a mid latency ERP component (around 140 ms post stimulus) as a promising candidate the neural correlates of tactile detection, whereas earlier components such as the P60 seem to reflect physical stimulus properties (Forschack et al., 2020; Schröder et al., 2021). Electrical stimulation to the finger is favored in the laboratory setting, but it is unrealistic and might involve different processing than mechanical somatosensory stimuli. My EEG study entails a near-threshold detection paradigm that includes mechanical stimulation to overcome this issue. Furthermore, I investigate the differences between the perception of mechanical versus electrical stimulation in a within subject design, to capture potential individual effects.