Vibratory Sensibility

Abstract

An apparatus for the quantitative determination of vibratory sensibility has been described by Newman and Corbin, 1 who determined vibratory acuity of normal individuals and found a progressive increase in threshold with age. An apparent tendency for tall individuals to exhibit higher thresholds was noticed during the course of that investigation. To determine this point, the vibratory thresholds of 139 males in the third decade of life were obtained as previously described. 1 The data so obtained were subjected to statistical analysis, in order to determine whether any relation might exist between vibratory sensibility and weight, height, or surface area, Surface area was computed by means of a DuBois surface chart as prepared by Boothby and Sandiford.

The frequencies for the thresholds of vibratory sensibility over the cranial margin of the patellae and the frequencies for different heights have been distributed in Contingency Table I, and those for the thresholds over the malleoli and for height, in Contingency Table II. Three numbers are shown in each cell in the tables. The first number represents the observed frequency, the second the theoretical frequency, and the third the chi square for that cell. Tables III and IV similarly represent the relation between vibratory sensibility threshold frequencies and surface area frequencies. The data have been analyzed by the chi square distribution method as used by Fisher. 2 The total chi square for each table, when referred to a Table of Goodness of Fit as given by Fisher, indicated that the probability that the discrepancy between the observed and the theoretical figures was due to chance was less than one in one hundred. Examination of Tables I to IV further reveals that the greatest discrepancies occur in those cells containing the extremes of the variables studied, and indicates a positive correlation between stature and threshold of vibratory acuity.