T cell activation requires contact with APCs. We used optical techniques to demonstrate T cell polarity on the basis of shape, motility, and localized sensitivity to antigen. An intracellular Ca²⁺ clamp showed that T cell shape and motility are extremely sensitive to changes in [Ca²⁺]_i (K_d = 200 nM), with immobilization and rounding occurring via a calcineurin-independent pathway. Ca²⁺-dependent immobilization prolonged T cell contact with the antigen-presenting B cell; buffering the [Ca²⁺]_i signal prevented the formation of stable cell pairs. Optical tweezers revealed spatial T cell sensitivity to antigen by controlling placement on the T cell surface of either B cells or α-CD3 MAb-coated beads. T cells were 4-fold more sensitive to contact made at the leading edge of the T cell compared with the tail. We conclude that motile T cells are polarized antigen sensors that respond physically to [Ca²⁺]_i signals to stabilize their interaction with APCs.