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Though it has long been known that animal communication is complex, recent years have seen growing interest in understanding the extent to which animals give multicomponent signals in multiple modalities, and how the different types of information extracted by receivers are interpreted and integrated in animal decision-making. This interest has culminated in the production of the present special issue on multimodal communication, which features both theoretical and empirical studies from leading researchers in the field. Reviews, comparative analyses, and species-specific empirical studies include manuscripts on taxa as diverse as spiders, primates, birds, lizards, frogs, and humans. The present manuscript serves as both an introduction to this special issue, as well as an introduction to multimodal communication more generally. We discuss the history of the study of complexity in animal communication, issues relating to defining and classifying multimodal signals, and particular issues to consider with multimodal (as opposed to multicomponent unimodal) communication. We go on to discuss the current state of the field, and outline the contributions contained within the issue. We finish by discussing future avenues for research, in particular emphasizing that 'multimodal' is more than just 'bimodal', and that more integrative frameworks are needed that incorporate more elements of efficacy, such as receiver sensory ecology and the environment.

In the era of big data and artificial intelligence (AI), advanced data storage and processing technologies are in urgent demand. The innovative neuromorphic algorithm and hardware based on memristor devices hold a promise to break the von Neumann bottleneck. In recent years, carbon nanodots (CDs) have emerged as a new class of nano‐carbon materials, which have attracted widespread attention in the applications of chemical sensors, bioimaging, and memristors. The focus of this review is to summarize the main advances of CDs‐based memristors, and their state‐of‐the‐art applications in artificial synapses, neuromorphic computing, and human sensory perception systems. The first step is to systematically introduce the synthetic methods of CDs and their derivatives, providing instructive guidance to prepare high‐quality CDs with desired properties. Then, the structure–property relationship and resistive switching mechanism of CDs‐based memristors are discussed in depth. The current challenges and prospects of memristor‐based artificial synapses and neuromorphic computing are also presented. Moreover, this review outlines some promising application scenarios of CDs‐based memristors, including neuromorphic sensors and vision, low‐energy quantum computation, and human–machine collaboration. In this review, the main advances on CDs‐based memristors and their state‐of‐the‐art applications in artificial synapse, neuromorphic computing, and human sensory perception systems are summarized. The structure–property relationship and resistive switching mechanism of CDs are discussed in depth. This work provides instructive guidance to prepare high‐quality CDs and gives some promising application scenarios for memristors‐based neuromorphic sensor and vision.

Understanding consumers’ food choices and the psychological processes involved in their preferences is crucial to promote more mindful eating regulation and guide food design. Fortifying foods minimizing the oral dryness, rough, and puckering associated with many functional ingredients has been attracting interest in understanding oral astringency over the years. A variety of studies have explored the sensorial mechanisms and the food properties determining astringency perception. The present review provides a deeper understanding of astringency, a general view of the oral mechanisms involved, and the exciting variety of the latest methods used to direct and indirectly quantify and simulate the astringency perception and the specific mechanisms involved.

Background Previous research using the Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ) has reported greater sensory hypersensitivity in people with autism spectrum condition (ASC) compared to controls, consistent with other research. However, current scoring of the SPQ does not differentiate between hyper and hyposensitivity, making it uncertain whether individuals with ASC might also show differences in hyposensitivity. Furthermore, no research to date has focused on sensory differences in females, and whether differences in sensory sensitivity extend to the broader autism phenotype (BAP). The present study aimed to fill these gaps. Methods The present study developed and validated a Revised Scoring of the Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ-RS) in order to investigate self-reported hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity in three groups of adults: a female ASC group ( n = 152), mothers of children with ASC (BAP mothers group; n = 103), and a control mothers group ( n = 74). All participants completed the SPQ as a self-report measure of sensory processing and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) as a measure of the degree of autism traits. Results The female ASC group reported significantly more hypersensitivity, but not more hyposensitivity, compared to the control female and BAP mothers groups. The BAP mothers group did not differ from the control mothers group in either reported hypersensitivity ( p = .365) or hyposensitivity ( p = .075), suggesting atypical sensory sensitivity is not a BAP trait within females. SPQ-RS hypersensitivity scores positively correlated with autistic traits in the female ASC ( r = .266) and BAP mothers groups ( r = .350). Conclusions The present findings revealed greater sensory hypersensitivity, but not hyposensitivity, in females with ASC compared to BAP and control female groups, and that a greater degree of autism traits relates to higher hypersensitivity in ASC females. The results offer support for the enhanced perceptual functioning model using large samples of females, who are an understudied population, and demonstrate the validity of the SPQ-RS as a valuable new research tool for exploring self-reported hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity.

The penis is a vital organ of perception that transmits perceived signals to ejaculation-related centers. The penis consists of the glans penis and penile shaft, which differ considerably in both histology and innervation. This paper aims to investigate whether the glans penis or the penile shaft is the main source of sensory signals from the penis and whether penile hypersensitivity affects the whole organ or only part of it. The thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were recorded in 290 individuals with primary premature ejaculation using the glans penis and penile shaft as the sensory areas. The thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes of SSEPs from the glans penis and penile shaft in patients were significantly different (all P < 0.0001). The latency of the glans penis or penile shaft was shorter than average (indicating hypersensitivity) in 141 (48.6%) cases, of which 50 (35.5%) cases were sensitive in both the glans penis and penile shaft, 14 (9.9%) cases were sensitive in the glans penis only, and 77 (54.6%) cases were sensitive in the penile shaft only (P < 0.0001). There are statistical differences in the signals perceived through the glans penis and the penile shaft. Penile hypersensitivity does not necessarily mean that the whole penis is hypersensitive. We classify penile hypersensitivity into three categories, namely, glans penis, penile shaft, and whole-penis hypersensitivity, and we propose the new concept of penile hypersensitive zone.

This study investigates how walkability variables and sensory experience affect each other. In order to carry out the investigation, discussions of both movement and sensory perception of space were carried out. The Commented Walk method, one of the Mobile Methods, was used as a methodological approach to gauge the multisensory perception experience of the interviewees. The degree of walkability was measured using parameters obtained from existing literature. Four locations were selected in Istanbul and analyzed multidimensionally through the lenses of walkability and sensory experience. To support the analyses made of the spaces’ physical components, it was determined that the results obtained by measuring the individual’s original experience could be used to effectively define that space’s character. The analyses revealed that examining the space through walkability parameters was not sufficient to explain the users’ perception of sensory stimuli. Ensuring movement continuity and a comfortable walking route allowed for an experience of spatial diversity as well as the perception of fragmented stimuli.

The development of various artificial electronics and machines would explosively increase the amount of information and data, which need to be processed via in-situ remediation. Bioinspired synapse devices can store and process signals in a parallel way, thus improving fault tolerance and decreasing the power consumption of artificial systems. The organic field effect transistor (OFET) is a promising component for bioinspired neuromorphic systems because it is suitable for large-scale integrated circuits and flexible devices. In this review, the organic semiconductor materials, structures and fabrication, and different artificial sensory perception systems functions based on neuromorphic OFET devices are summarized. Subsequently, a summary and challenges of neuromorphic OFET devices are provided. This review presents a detailed introduction to the recent progress of neuromorphic OFET devices from semiconductor materials to perception systems, which would serve as a reference for the development of neuromorphic systems in future bioinspired electronics. The basic organic materials of neuromorphic OFETs are summarized. The device structures and working mechanisms based on neuromorphic OFETs are systematically reviewed. The device structures and working mechanisms based on neuromorphic OFETs are sorted out and discussed in detail.

Background/Objectives: In the context of facial surgery, particularly reconstructive procedures, sensory recovery is a critical yet often underexplored aspect of functional rehabilitation. Sensory-motor recovery can be considered a key marker of integration following reconstructive surgery. Among sensory modalities, discriminative sensitivity is typically the last to recover, making its evaluation particularly relevant. While established norms for hand sensitivity exist in the literature, there is a paucity of data regarding facial sensitivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the discriminative sensitivity of the face in a population of healthy women aged 45–60 years. Methods: A total of 20 healthy women were included between January and March 2013. Participants had no history of facial pathologies or trauma. Discriminative sensitivity was measured using the Disk-Criminator™ device across eight facial zones. A detailed mapping of the tested areas was performed. Data obtained were compared with the existing literature. Statistical analyses included Shapiro–Wilk tests for normality, followed by Student’s t-tests for group comparisons. To account for small sample size and verify robustness, non-parametric Mann–Whitney U tests were also performed. Adjustment for multiple comparisons was applied using the Bonferroni correction (adjusted α = 0.0125). Results: The mean age of participants was 52.3 years (±4.0 years). Discrimination threshold values ranged from 2.9 to 14.3 mm. Comparison with existing studies showed no significant age-related differences in zone 2R (cheek) and zone 8 (lower lip), suggesting stable sensitivity in these regions across adulthood. However, a significant decline in sensitivity with age was observed only in zone 1R (forehead), with a p-value < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: We established a reference framework for cutaneous discriminative sensitivity across eight facial zones. These norms can serve as a baseline for the assessment and monitoring of patients with facial pathologies. Furthermore, our findings contribute to a better understanding of age-related sensory changes.

Project MindCatcher is an art/research project which has the intention to explore the potential of interactive artistic environments for measuring and a better understanding of creative experience and contribute to further development of co-creative artistic/design process. For that purpose, we created the Floor Interface and collected a set of data from its interactive points such as: personal information from the login process, abstract multi-sensory artefacts created by visitors, visitors’ walking paths from the floor interface, video shooting of their behaviour on the floor interface during the sessions, results from the interviews which were done with visitors and personal observations.

Vinegar functions not only as a sensory enhancer but also as a culturally embedded culinary element across global food systems. In Taiwanese cuisine, black vinegar represents a traditional staple, particularly associated with dumpling consumption, whereas Italian balsamic vinegar is renowned for its aromatic complexity and nuanced sweetness, highly esteemed in Western gastronomy. Despite their culinary significance, limited empirical research has examined how these culturally distinct condiments are perceived when applied beyond their traditional contexts, especially in iconic national dishes. This study investigates Taiwanese consumers’ cross-cultural sensory responses to dumplings paired with either local black vinegar or imported balsamic vinegar. Through a structured sensory evaluation encompassing appearance, aroma, taste, and overall impression, this research explores how sensory cues and cultural expectations interact to shape flavor preferences. The results indicate that although visual attributes were rated similarly, balsamic vinegar’s distinctive aroma and taste elicited significantly greater sensory engagement, suggesting a latent openness to reinterpretation and hybridization within established food practices. These findings were supported by one-way ANOVA results, which revealed significant differences among the three groups for aroma (F = 6.30, p < 0.01), taste (F = 7.21, p < 0.01), and overall evaluation (F = 15.15, p < 0.001). By integrating sensory analysis with cultural food studies, this research advances the understanding of how multisensory cues influence consumer acceptance across cultural contexts. It further highlights the dynamic interplay between cultural familiarity and sensory novelty in flavor perception. These insights yield practical implications for culinary innovation, global flavor localization, and the development of culturally responsive food products.