VIBROTACTILE THRESHOLDS의 손가락 끝단과 상박에서의 계측프로브크기 영향

Abstract

Vibrotactile thresholds (from 8 to 250 Hz) for sixteen male subjects were determined at two locations on the body (distal phalanx of finger and volar forearm) using two contact conditions. The contact conditions differed in the diameter of the contacting probe (1 mm or 6 mm) and the gap between the probe and a static surround (1 mm or 2 mm respectively). Thresholds at the fingertip were significantly lower than those at the volar forearm at all tested frequencies with both contact conditions, consistent with the density of mechanoreceptors at these locations. The effect of probe size was statistically significant at all frequencies above 63 Hz at the fingertip but was only significant at 250 Hz on the volar forearm with lower thresholds from the larger probe. The variations in thresholds suggest that different tactile channels mediated the vibrotactile response at the two locations with the various combinations of probe size and vibration frequency. The results are discussed with reference to models of tactile perception.