Measuring Touch Sensitivity in an Aging Population

Aldrin R. Loomes*, Roberta Roberts, Harriet A. Allen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

As we age, our touch sensitivity declines due to changes in the skin, receptors, afferent nerve fibers, and central nervous system. Aging also results in changes in the speed and accuracy of movements. Such changes have the potential to impact exploratory strategies used in active touch. Some of the motor changes during exploration may themselves reflect changing somatosensory signals supporting movement execution. At the same time as sensorimotor changes, aging results in cognitive changes spanning perception, attention, memory, and motivation. When studying somatosensation over the lifespan, it is important to design tasks and performance measures that make it possible to determine the underlying sensory basis for age-related changes, while controlling for the cognitive effects of aging. This chapter discusses some of the issues arising when testing older participants. We suggest various practical adjustments to testing somatosensory functions that allow comparisons of performance across different age groups.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSomatosensory Research Methods
EditorsNicholas Paul Holmes
PublisherHumana Press
Pages251-265
Number of pages15
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9781071630686
ISBN (Print)9781071630679, 9781071630709
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2023

Publication series

NameNeuromethods
Volume196
ISSN (Print)0893-2336
ISSN (Electronic)1940-6045

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • Age
  • Discrimination
  • Hydration
  • Matching
  • Multisensory
  • Sensitivity
  • Softness
  • Stickiness
  • Texture

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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