Somesthetic Sensitivity in Young and Elderly Humans
Abstract
Absolute thresholds were measured on 27 young (ages 19 to 31) and 21 elderly (ages 55 to 84) humans to six modes of cutaneous stimulation (single ramp-and-hold skin indentations--tactile, vibration at 40 and 250 Hz, temperature increases and decreases, and noxious heat) at two sites, the thenar eminence and the plantar foot. Comparisons of the elderly and young groups showed that elderly persons were significantly, p less than or equal to .001, less sensitive than young individuals to mechanical stimuli (tactile and vibration) at both sites. No significant differences were found in thresholds to thermal stimuli (warm-, cold-, and heat-pain) at either site except elderly feet were significantly, p less than or equal to .001, less sensitive than young feet to warm stimuli. Thresholds of elderly individuals were compared with the young group thresholds for deficits in sensitivity. All elderly participants showed deficits to one or more of the stimulus modes at one or the other site. There were significantly, p less than or equal to 0.01, more deficits to mechanical than to thermal stimuli. There was no increase in the frequency of deficits with increasing age.
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The decline in touch sensitivity is more severe for the lower extremities.
“this decline is more severe for the lower extremities (Kenshalo, 1986; Lin et al., 2005)”
From Design Principles to Accommodate Older Adults (2012) · cites this paper as Kenshalo, 1986
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- Authors
- Kenshalo, D. R.
- Affiliations
- Florida State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kenshalo, D. R.
- Venue
- Journal of Gerontology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1986-11-01
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 732-742
- ISSN
- 0022-1422 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2166620045
- Cited by
- 393
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 1.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Gerontology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (AG02085)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- aging, absolute threshold, tactile perception, vibration perception, thermal sensation, thermal pain, skin indentation, thenar eminence, plantar foot, cutaneous stimulation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cold Temperature, Female, Foot, Hand, Hot Temperature, Humans, Male, Mechanoreceptors, Middle Aged, Physical Stimulation, Sensation, Sensory Thresholds, Sex Factors, Thermosensing, Touch, Vibration
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