Consistent Finger Wrinkle Patterns May Aid Future Biometric Identification.

New research from Binghamton University indicates that the wrinkles forming on our fingertips after prolonged water exposure are not random but follow consistent patterns each time. This discovery suggests potential applications in biometric identification and forensic science.

The study, led by Associate Professor Guy German and graduate student Rachel Laytin, involved participants immersing their right hands in 40°C water for 30 minutes. Photographs taken immediately after immersion and repeated at least 24 hours later showed that the wrinkle patterns on the fingertips were remarkably similar across sessions. Mathematical analysis confirmed that the corresponding wrinkles matched each other almost perfectly.

"Blood vessels don't change their position much—they move around a bit, but in relation to other blood vessels, they're pretty static," German explained. "That means the wrinkles should form in the same manner, and we proved that they do." 

This phenomenon is attributed to vasoconstriction. When skin is submerged in water, it absorbs water, leading to a dilution of salt in the tissue. This change is signaled to the brain via nerves, prompting blood vessels to constrict. The overlying skin, anchored to these vessels, is pulled inward, creating wrinkles that mirror the underlying vascular structures.

Interestingly, the formation of these wrinkles is controlled by the nervous system. Individuals with nerve damage, such as median nerve injuries, do not exhibit the typical wrinkling response upon water immersion. This observation underscores the role of neural signals in initiating the vasoconstriction that leads to skin wrinkling.

The consistent nature of these wrinkle patterns opens up possibilities for their use in biometric identification and forensic science. If these patterns remain stable over longer periods, they could serve as an alternative or supplementary method to traditional fingerprinting techniques.

"I do love the fact that the origin of this story came from just a simple, innocent question," German said. "It opened up a huge door of what is essentially unknown science."

The full findings are detailed in the May issue of the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials.

Source:https://www.sciencenews.org/article/wet-fingers-pruney-wrinkle-shrivel-same

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.