This study was designed to investigate the feasibility of utilizing an adaptation for selective elicitation of tactile sensations by means of transcutaneous electrical stimulation. We conducted the first experiment to investigate how the stimulation frequency affected the adaptation. Twenty healthy subjects participated in the second experiment to confirm our proposal that the perception intensity of the low-frequency vibration can be enhanced after a high-frequency adaptation, and vice versa. It was found that (1) a low-frequency stimulation did not adapt the nerve afferents responsible for the high-frequency vibration, (2) a high-frequency stimulation affected the nerve afferents responsible for the low-frequency vibration, but adapted to the pressure sensation more intensely, and (3) more than 62% of the subjects reported a more clear selective sensation after the adaptation had lessened or depressed the unwanted sensation. The observations showed that adaptation of the nerve afferent could be utilized for selective elicitation of tactile sensations.
