Who suggested that the centers of disturbance in primate friction ridges represented volar pad locations?

The assertion that the centers of disturbance in primate friction ridges correspond to volar pad locations is attributed to Harris Hawthorne Wilder. Wilder was a prominent figure in early fingerprint research and made significant contributions to the understanding of friction ridge formation and anatomy. His work suggested that the patterns seen in fingerprint ridges were influenced by the underlying structure of volar pads – the fleshy pads on the fingers and palms that form the basis for the unique ridge patterns.

By studying these relationships, Wilder helped establish a foundational understanding of how friction ridge patterns develop in primates, including humans. This understanding has important implications in forensic science, particularly in fingerprint analysis and matching processes.