More sensitive touch in woman hands

The good judgment of touch is more receptive among women than men because their fingers are smaller, a study suggests.
Researchers found greater sweat pore density in smaller fingers.


The fingertip feel receptors, which cluster around sweat pore bases, were therefore more tightly packed,
Higher sensitivity could improve the ability to perform tasks such as embroidery or surgery,
The researchers pressed progressively narrower parallel grooves against the stationary fingertips of 100 volunteers
Those with smaller fingers, and these tended to be the women, could discern tighter grooves.

The index finger is more sensitive than the little finger - but lead researcher improves with continued use.


He now plans to research whether children have more sensitive fingers than adults.
Researcher who has studied touch in children, said: "It could be that children find touch a particularly informative sense because it is a more sensitive modality for them due to their smaller hands and bodies.


Parents and teachers may have to think twice before saying things like 'Look, but don't touch'."
But Researcher said the findings could be the result of women's skin being softer than men's and arranged slightly differently at the cellular level.


Scientist who has been studying the role of touch, said: "This study looks at one particular type of touch receptor, but touch involves a number of receptor types working together.