Neurons in human skin perform advanced calculations

Perhaps the most surprising result of our study is that these peripheral neurons, which are engaged when a fingertip examines an object, perform the same type of calculations done by neurons in the cerebral cortex. Somewhat simplified, it means that our touch experiences are already processed by neurons in the skin before they reach the brain for further processing

This complexity partly explains why roboticists have yet to develop tactile sense for their machines. Picking either a key or a coin from ones pocket is not something we think of as extraordinary, nevertheless, this seemingly simple task is impossible for todays robots and robotic prosthetics.