The Effects of Aging on Information-Processing Channels in the Sense of Touch: I. Absolute Sensitivity
Abstract
Thresholds for detecting vibrotactile signals of variable frequency applied to the thenar eminence of the hand by small and large contactors were measured in subjects ranging in age from 10 to 89 years. Thresholds were found to increase as a function of age, but the rate of increase was greater after than before the age of 65 years. The rate of loss of vibrotactile sensitivity was substantially greater in the P channel (mediated by Pacinian corpuscles) than in the NP I channel (mediated by rapidly adapting fibers), the NP II channel (mediated by slowly adapting type II fibers), or the NP III channel (mediated by slowly adapting type I fibers). Women were frequently found to have greater sensitivity than men.
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Tactile sensibility declines with age, as evidenced by increased sensory thresholds and decreased spatial acuity.
“It has been widely demonstrated that tactile sensibility declines with age, as evidenced by increased sensory thresholds (Dyck et al. 1972;Gescheider et al. 1994;Thornbury and Mistretta 1981;Verrillo 1980) and decreased spatial acuity (Manning and Tremblay 2006;Stevens and Choo 1996;Stevens and Patterson 1995;Tremblay et al. 2003;Woodward 1993).”
From Tactile innervation densities across the whole body (2020) · cites this paper as Gescheider et al. 1994
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Four channels mediate the mechanical aspects of touch
Bolanowski, S. J., Gescheider, G. A., Verrillo, R. T., & Checkosky, C. M. (1988) · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · doi:10.1121/1.397184 · Cited by 937 · see citing works
Self-citationDecrease in human neurones with age
Gardner, E. (1940) · The Anatomical Record · doi:10.1002/ar.1090770409 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
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Tactile innervation densities across the whole body
Corniani, G., & Saal, H. P. (2020) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00313.2020 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Interoceptive awareness declines with age
Khalsa, S. S., Rudrauf, D., & Tranel, D. (2009) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2009.00859.x · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Tactile acuity, aging, and braille reading in long-term blindness.
Stevens, J. C., Foulke, E., & Patterson, M. Q. (1996) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied · doi:10.1037/1076-898x.2.2.91 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Tactile sensitivity of normal and autistic children
Güçlü, B., Tanidir, C., Mukaddes, N. M., & Ünal, F. (2007) · Somatosensory & Motor Research · doi:10.1080/08990220601179418 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Kessler, R., Bach, M., & Heinrich, S. P. (2017) · IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering · doi:10.1109/tnsre.2016.2569258 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gescheider, G. A., Bolanowski, S. J., Hall, K. L., Hoffman, K. E., & Verrillo, R. T.
- Affiliations
- Hamilton College (US)
- Syracuse University (US)
- Venue
- Somatosensory & Motor Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1994-01
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 345-357
- ISSN
- 0899-0220 (ISSN-L)
- 1369-1651
- OpenAlex
- W2068814897
- Cited by
- 174
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Somatosensory & Motor Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- National Institutes of Health (5r01dc000098-21, 5r01dc001243-03)
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01 DC00098, R01 DC-01243)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
- Keywords
- aging, vibrotactile sensitivity, tactile threshold, thenar eminence, Pacinian corpuscles, sex differences, age-related sensory decline
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Afferent Pathways, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attention, Awareness, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Mechanoreceptors, Middle Aged, Psychophysics, Reference Values, Sensory Thresholds, Sex Factors, Touch
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