Engineering mechanoreceptor feature selectivity

Touch and proprioception rely on the discriminative abilities of distinct classes of mechanosensory neurons. In this issue of Neuron, two studies1,2 provide evidence that biomechanical mechanisms and ultrastructural cellular specializations are key contributors in defining mechanoreceptor stimulus threshold and selectivity. Touch and proprioception rely on the discriminative abilities of distinct classes of mechanosensory neurons. In this issue of Neuron, two studies provide evidence that biomechanical mechanisms and ultrastructural cellular specializations are key contributors in defining mechanoreceptor stimulus threshold and selectivity.