The spatial characteristics of thermal perception were studied in two experiments that examined how thermal stimuli are processed within the hands. A thermal display that simulates cues associated with making contact with different materials was used in these studies. In the first experiment, participants indicated which of two simulated materials that were presented to the index fingertip was cooler. The results indicated that participants were unable to resolve the two areas of thermal stimulation. In the second experiment, the effects of concurrent thermal stimulation on the ability to discriminate between simulated materials were evaluated. Thermal cues were presented to the middle fingers of both hands and to two adjacent fingers on one hand. Thermal spatial summation was evident across the fingers, which enhanced the ability to discriminate between materials when the cooler stimulus was presented to three fingers. When the same stimulus was presented to the two hands, the stimulation of adjacent fingers altered the perceived thermal response.

中文翻译：

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手头上的空间敏锐度和总和：热线索在材料辨别中的作用。

在两个实验中研究了热感知的空间特征，这些实验研究了如何在手中处理热刺激。在这些研究中，使用了模拟与不同材料接触相关线索的热显示器。在第一个实验中，参与者指出了展示给食指的两种模拟材料中哪一种更凉爽。结果表明，参与者无法解决热刺激的两个方面。在第二个实验中，评估了同时进行的热刺激对区分模拟材料的能力的影响。热暗示出现在两只手的中指和一只手上的两个相邻手指上。整个手指的热空间总和很明显，当向三个手指施加冷刺激时，增强了区分材料的能力。当对两只手施加相同的刺激时，相邻手指的刺激会改变感知到的热响应。