In Touch with the Body

We might instinctively think of touch as perceiving the external world through our skin, but the skin senses’ functions are far broader than that, and much of what they do goes on outside conscious awareness. This interactive session will explore the somatosensory system from the free nerve endings in the skin all the way up to the brain, using hands-on demonstrations to illustrate how we detect pain, vibration, and gentle touch. Along the way, we will consider how our social environment shapes our perception of the senses, discuss the real-world impact of sensory dysfunction in chronic pain, and highlight the importance of ongoing research to the understanding and treatment of a range of conditions including chronic pain and stroke.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday 3rd of April
• Time: 4.00 – 6.00pm
• Venue: The Hub and Foyer, Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot
• Registration: Free to attend. Tea and Coffee included. Booking https://lng.org.uk/BYOB-TOUCH
• Audience: Adults and accompanied children.

What’s Happening?

• 4:00PM: Hear four short presentations from Liverpool-based neuroscientists who will explain how we touch, feel, and experience pain – as well a chance to hear more about the research they are doing here in the city.
• 4:45PM: A brief question and answer session, where we try to answer any burning questions you have about the ‘somatosensory nervous system’.
• 5:00PM: Your chance to try your hand at the interactive demonstration stations, as well as experience some of the research techniques and tasks used in the lab and in the clinic.