Vibrotactile magnitude scaling was performed on three different age groups of six normal subjects each. The psychophysical method of magnitude production was used for the scaling of vibratory stimuli applied to the anterior dorsal surface of the tongue. The older subjects produced shallower upper-slope functions than the younger subjects and also showed greater response variability. Behavioral, anatomical, and physiological factors are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AikenL. R.Problems in testing the elderly. Educational Gerontology, 1980, 5, 119–124.
2.
AtkinsonW. H.A general equation for sensory magnitude. Perception and Psychophysics, 1982, 31, 26–40.
3.
von. BekesyG.Experiments in hearing. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960.
4.
CurtisA. P.Development and aging: the effects on certain sensory and motor processes. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ohio Univer., 1976.
5.
FucciD.BlackmonR.LindseyS.McCaffreyP.The effects of age on vibrotactile thresholds obtained from the tongue. Ohio Journal of Speech and Hearing, 1974, 10, 18–24.
6.
FucciD.CraryM. A.Oral vibrotactile sensation and perception: state of the art. In LassN. (Ed.), Speech and language: advances in basic research and practice. New York: Academic Press, 1979. Pp. 321–349.
7.
FucciD.PetrosinoL.Lingual vibrotactile sensation magnitudes: stimulus frequency effect. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1982, 20, 224–226.
8.
FucciD.PetrosinoL.Lingual vibrotactile sensation magnitudes: comparison of suprathreshold responses in men and women. Perception and Psychophysics, 1983, 33, 93–95.
9.
FucciD.PetrosinoL.RobeyR.Auditory masking effects on lingual vibrotactile thresholds as a function of age. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1982, 54, 943–950.
10.
FucciD.PetrosinoL.WallaceD.SmallL. H.Modifications of instrumentation for research on lingual vibrotactile sensitivity: elimination of the tongue clamping procedure. Review of Scientific Instruments, 1982, 53, 1294–1296.
11.
GeldardF. A.Cutaneous channels of communication. In RosenblichW. A. (Ed.), Sensory communication. New York: Wiley, 1961. Pp. 73–87.
12.
HullR.Hearing evaluation of the elderly. In KatzJ. (Ed.), Handbook of clinical audiology. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1978. Pp. 426–441.
13.
MarshG. R.Perceptual changes with aging. In BusseE. W.BlazerD. G. (Eds.), Handbook of geriatric psychiatry. New York: Van Nostrand, 1980. Pp. 147–168.
14.
StevensS. S.The direct estimation of sensory magnitudes—loudness. American Journal of Psychology, 1956, 69, 1–25.
15.
StevensS. S.On the psychophysical law. Psychological Review, 1957, 64, 153–181.
16.
StevensS. S.The psychophysics of sensory function. In RosenblithW. A. (Ed.), Sensory communication. New York: Wiley, 1961. Pp. 1–33.
17.
TeghtsoonianR.Range effects in psychophysical scaling and a revision of Stevens' law. American Journal of Psychology, 1973, 86, 3–27.
18.
VerrilloR. T.Comparisons of child and adult vibrotactile thresholds. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1977, 9, 197–200.
19.
VerrilloR. T.Change in vibrotactile thresholds as a function of age. Sensory Processes, 1979, 3, 49–59
20.
VerrilloR. T.Comparison of vibrotactile threshold and suprathreshold responses in men and women. Perception and Psychophysics, 1979, 26, 20–24.
21.
VerrilloR. T.Age-related changes in the sensitivity to vibration. Journal of Gerontology, 1980, 35, 185–193.
22.
VerrilloR. T.Effects of aging on the suprathreshold responses to vibration. Perception and Psychophysics, 1982, 32, 61–68.
23.
VerrilloR. T.CapraroA.Effects of stimulus frequency on subjective vibrotactile magnitude functions. Perception and Psychophysics, 1975, 17, 91–96.
24.
VerrilloR. T.ChamberlainS. C.The effect of neural density and contactor surround on vibrotactile sensation magnitude. Perception and Psychophysics, 1972, 11, 117–120.
25.
VerrilloR. T.FraioliA. J.SmithR. L.Sensation magnitude of vibrotactile stimuli. Perception and Psychophysics, 1969, 6, 366–372.
26.
VerrilloR. T.SmithR.Effects of stimulus duration on vibrotactile sensation magnitude. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1976, 8, 112–114.
27.
WelfordA. T.Sensory, perceptual and motor processes in older adults. In BirrenJ. E.SloaneR. B. (Eds.), Handbook of mental health and aging. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980. Pp. 192–213.
28.
ZwislockiJ.Analysis of some auditory characteristics. In LuceR. D.BushR. B.GalanterE. (Eds.), Handbook of mathematical psychology. Vol. 3. New York: Wiley, 1965. Pp. 1–99.
29.
ZwislockiJ.GoodmanD.Absolute scaling of sensory magnitudes: a validation. Perception and Psychophysics, 1980, 28, 28–38.
