Activity

Two-point discrimination

In this activity, students explore how the receptors responsible for the sensation of light touch are distributed over the body.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • explain what a touch receptor is and name at least 2 examples

  • explain the term two-point discrimination

  • recall areas on the body where there are large and small numbers of touch receptors, explaining why the body is structured in this way.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • what you need

  • what to do

  • student worksheet.

Nature of Science

Scientific investigations often involve the collection of evidence or data and the application of reasoning or imagination when formulating a hypothesis or devising an explanation to make sense of collected data.

Related content

Discover more about the structure and function of touch whilst also exploring some of the key science ideas and concepts.

Activity idea

In the Mystery box activity students use only their sense of touch to put sandpaper samples in order from finest grade to coarsest grade.

Published: 1 February 2011