Super Seal Sense: Active Touch Sensing in Pinnipeds

Lianne Baker
Thursday 24 November 2022

Super Seal Sense: Active Touch Sensing in PinnipedsDr Alyx MilneManchester Metropolitan University


Dr Alyx Milne

Human fingertips are an active touch system as they make purposeful, task-specific movements. Most other mammals don’t have fingertips, their primary tactile sensor is their whiskers. Whiskers are used for tasks such as forgoing, exploration and navigation. While studies have referred to whiskers as an active sense, no one has ever identified task-specific whisker movements in ANY animal, determined by making different whisker movements during different tasks… until now!

The best way to address active touch sensing in large mammals is with Pinnipeds the group of seals, sealions and walrus. Training California sea lions using positive reinforcement, I discovered that California sea lions apply different whisker movement strategies depending on the task in hand or should I say whisker, just like our own fingertips. While blindfolded California sea lions use their whiskers to judge size and determine textures using different whisker movements. I discovered Pinniped whiskers ARE an active sensing system, providing first-hand evidence of active whisker-sensing in any animal!


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