2019 年 24 巻 1 号 p. 3-12
The human primary somatosensory cortex corresponds to an organized topological map of all body parts (somatotopy). However, the representative proportion of body parts in the brain differs from that of the physical body. This distorted representation is called the cortical homunculus. Body parts with extensive cortical representation have a greater sensitivity in spatial resolution. We have developed the software, Face Homunculus Viewer, that can modify any facial images to homunculus-like faces with sensitivity parameters. The software was employed to support children and adults in understanding the cortical homunculus and the sensitivity differences of various body parts. Several workshops were held in which participants measured two-point discrimination thresholds at the forearm, lip and forehead to create a personalized homunculus. The software may contribute to user knowledge on the mechanisms of somatosensory perception in the brain of humans through their own embodied experience.