Non-Fiction Reading Response

      
       "Pruney digits help people get a grip"
       
        By: Tanya Lewis


      Scientist have been researching about why the skin of human hands and feet become "furrowed" after being in water for extended periods of time. The cause of human skin becoming furrowed is mainly caused by the nervous system constricting blood vessels. Research shows that back in the 1930s surgeons noticed that if a finger nerve had been severed no wrinkling occurred. Researchers suggested this might happen to allow a better grip on things for people. A study shows that wrinkled fingers help handle moist things better. Scientist don't know however how it is that the wrinkling improves someones's grip on moist things. They also think that perhaps the reason why toes also wrinkle, is to provide a surer footing on slick surfaces. Scientist think there may be an evolutionary cost to having pruney skin. Also that if humans evolve this trait it is possible that animals could evolve it too. 
       
       Reading this article makes me wonder why the nervous system causes this. "Though often assumed to be a result of water passively seeping into the skin, the phenomenon is actually caused by the nervous system constricting blood vessels". This statement suggests that the wrinkling may be caused as a reaction of the skin from being in water for so long. What scientist wonder is why the recation also helps humans have a better grip on moist objects. This reaction to the human skin may aslo be the human body learning to adapt better to moist places & water. 
      
       In conclusion the research has helped scientist understand better what it is that causes the human skin to wrinkle up. Something that could be investigated in the future is why the nervous system causes this to happen.