Developers of neural prosthetics are keen to devise ways to provide sensory feedback to the brain. Tee et al. now describe an 'organic digital mechanoreceptor' that mimics the characteristics of human cutaneous mechanoreceptors. The digital mechanoreceptor was composed of flexible organic electronic materials, including an oscillator circuit that generates voltage spikes and a carbon nanotube-based pressure sensor that modulates the spike frequency. The digital mechanoreceptor generated a signal with a range of 0–200 Hz, similar to that of a cutaneous mechanoreceptor. By coupling the mechanoreceptor to a light-emitting diode, the signal was transduced into light signal and used to optogenetically stimulate neurons in brain slices. Changes in pressure could thus be translated into changes in neuronal firing frequency. It is hoped that these devices may be used to provide prosthetic wearers with a sense of touch.