Gender and Sense of Touch (12-29-09)

Women usually have a better sense of touch than men, because their fingers are generally smaller than men’s fingers.  On smaller fingers, sensory receptors are more tightly packed.  This disparity in sensory acuity becomes relevant to designers when men with larger fingers select finishes that will be felt regularly by women with smaller fingers or when mixed sex groups are working together to select finishes, for example.

“Smaller is Better for Finger Sensitivity.”  2009.  Press release, Society for Neuroscience, http://www.sfn.org.