Small fingers give women better sense of touch
Women have a better sense of touch because of their smaller hands and fingers, researchers have found.Boffins tested the tactile acuity and sensitivity of 100 students by pressing progressively narrower parallel grooves against their stationary fingertips.
It was found that people with smaller fingers could discern tighter grooves thanks to having more closely spaced sensory receptors in their tiny digits.
The boffins from McMaster University say that this explains why in previous tests women were found to have more acute sensation in the fingers.
It also explains why women who wear extra-large gloves aren't generally that 'acute'.
"Neuroscientists have long known that some people have a better sense of touch than others, but the reasons for this difference have been mysterious," said researcher Daniel Goldreich, PhD.
"Our discovery reveals that one important factor in the sense of touch is finger size."
LINKS
McMaster University
"Our discovery reveals that one important factor in the sense of touch is finger size."
LINKS
McMaster University
