Normal values for thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females

ObjectivesThis study was undertaken to compare normal values of thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females and in younger and older age groups. In addition, for thermal thresholds, the effects of the contact area (small and large) and stimulus location (glabrous and non-glabrous skin) were investigated.MethodEighty healthy subjects participated in the study: 20 males and 20 females aged 20–30 years, and 20 males and 20 females aged 55–65 years. Subjects attended one 45 min experimental session consisting of acclimatisation for 10 min followed by 35 min of testing. Using the method of limits, hot thresholds and cold thresholds were measured on the non-dominant upper limb at three locations (the distal phalanx of the middle finger, the thenar eminence, and the dorsal surface of the forearm) using two circular contactors 1.0 and 2.8 cm in diameter. Using the von Békésy method, vibrotactile thresholds at 31.5 and 125 Hz were measured on the distal phalanx of the middle finger of the non-dominant hand.ResultsAmong the younger subjects there were significant gender differences in thermotactile thresholds but not vibrotactile thresholds. Age did not have any significant effect on thermotactile or vibrotactile thresholds. Hot thresholds were significantly higher and cold thresholds significantly lower when the larger stimulus area was used. The thresholds exceeded by 18% of the population (the mean plus one standard deviation) and by 2.5% (the mean plus two standard deviations) are provided and may be used to consider whether measured thresholds are within a “normal” range.ConclusionsFor males and females the same ranges of normal values may be used for vibrotactile thresholds but different ranges of normal values may be required for thermotactile thresholds. An age correction may not be needed for thermotactile or vibrotactile thresholds in persons aged 20–65 years. Contact area has an influence on thermotactile thresholds and should be controlled.

[1]  E. Harju.  Cold and warmth perception mapped for age, gender, and body area , 2002, Somatosensory & motor research.

[2]  J. Heimans,et al.  The relationship of cold and warmth cutaneous sensation to age and gender , 1989, Muscle & nerve.

[3]  Bernhard Neundörfer,et al.  Normative values of vibratory perception in 530 children, juveniles and adults aged 3–79 years , 1998, Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

[4]  M. Griffin,et al.  Normative data for vascular and neurological tests of the hand-arm vibration syndrome , 2002, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[5]  Lawrence E. Marks,et al.  Spatial summation and the dynamics of warmth sensation , 1971 .

[6]  P. Wild,et al.  Vibrotactile perception thresholds in four non-exposed populations of working age , 2001, Ergonomics.

[7]  S J Bolanowski,et al.  The effects of aging on information-processing channels in the sense of touch: I. Absolute sensitivity. , 1994, Somatosensory & motor research.

[8]  B. Nilsson,et al.  Temperature and vibration thresholds in vibration syndrome. , 1986, British journal of industrial medicine.

[9]  M. Griffin,et al.  Normal values for finger systolic blood pressures in males and females , 2008, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[10]  A. Pertovaara,et al.  The effects of stimulus area and adaptation temperature on warm and heat pain thresholds in man. , 1987, The International journal of neuroscience.

[11]  P W Lui,et al.  Normative data of quantitative thermal and vibratory thresholds in normal subjects in Taiwan: gender and age effect. , 1999, Zhonghua yi xue za zhi = Chinese medical journal; Free China ed.

[12]  J D Hardy,et al.  STUDIES IN TEMPERATURE SENSATION. III. THE SENSITIVITY OF THE BODY TO HEAT AND THE SPATIAL SUMMATION OF THE END ORGAN RESPONSES. , 1937, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[13]  S. Bolanowski,et al.  Effect of aging on the subjective magnitude of vibration , 2002, Somatosensory & motor research.

[14]  M. Abrahamowicz,et al.  Normal distributions of thermal and vibration sensory thresholds , 1998, Muscle & nerve.