vibroreceptors

Vibroreceptors, or vibrotactile receptors, are sensory receptors that detect vibration transmitted to the skin and other tissues. They transduce mechanical energy into electrical signals via mechanically gated ion channels, and their activity contributes to the perception of texture, motion, and tool-object interactions.

Within the skin, the principal vibroreceptors are Pacinian corpuscles and Meissner's corpuscles. Pacinian corpuscles are located deep in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue, have large receptive fields, and respond best to high-frequency vibrations (approximately 40–400 Hz) with rapid adaptation. Meissner's corpuscles reside in the superficial dermis near the epidermis, have smaller receptive fields, respond to lower-frequency vibrations (roughly 10–50 Hz) and flutter, and also adapt rapidly. Other mechanoreceptors, such as Merkel cells and Ruffini endings, mainly signal static touch and skin stretch rather than dynamic vibration.

Transmission of vibrotactile information uses Aβ afferent fibers and the dorsal column–medial lemniscus pathway to reach the somatosensory cortex, where temporal and spatial aspects of vibration are integrated. Clinically, vibroreceptor function can be assessed by vibrotactile testing or vibration threshold tests; abnormalities occur in peripheral neuropathies, diabetes, and exposure to occupational vibration.