Touch, Tickle and Poke - the Neuroscience of Touch (Appreciation Session)

Appreciation Session, Ages 13+ (including adults). - 1 Session

Have you ever wondered how you are able to pick out the correct key inside your pocket using just your finger? Do you feel the tag of your shirt touching your skin, but only when you pay attention to it? Have you ever felt a creepy-crawly feeling on your skin when you see a hairy caterpillar? These are some of the many mysterious capabilities of our sense of touch. In this talk, the facilitator will explain how the brain constructs our rich tactile experience beginning with the touch that happens at the surface of our skin. Through the whiskers of the mouse and fingerprints of the koala, we will go through a journey through this fascinating world of touch, tickle and poke.