Vibraestim: Low-cost prototype for detecting the vibration perception threshold of thick fibers

Peripheral nerves are actually bundles of nerve fibers. Some are very small (diameters less than 0.4 mm) and others are thicker (diameters up to 6 mm). The thicker fibers carry messages that activate muscles (motor nerve fibers) and tactile and position sensitivity (sensitive nerve fibers). Smaller sensory nerve fibers transmit sensitivity to pain and temperature and control the body's automatic functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature (autonomic nervous system).