Vibrotactile Sensitivity of the Glabrous Hand and Perioral Face in Neurotypical Children and Adults

Abstract

Experimental findings are limited concerning tactile sensitivity of the glabrous hand and perioral face in neurotypical children. Additional research examining vibrotactile detection thresholds (VDT) in neurotypical children would further understanding of tactile perception in children and add to our understanding of somatosensory development across the lifespan.Method: A microprocessor-controlled, automated single-interval up/down (SIUD) adaptive tracking system, including stimulus control and perceptual response logging, was used to estimate vibrotactile detection thresholds (VDT) bilaterally for the glabrous index finger and perioral hairy skin at the oral angle in two neurotypical cohorts, including 37 children (age 10-13 years) and 45 adults (age 19-35 years) in response to sinusoidal mechanical stimuli presented at 5, 10, 50, 150, 250, and 300 Hz.Results: Linear mixed modeling (LMM) analysis revealed that the effects of skin site (F = 115.74, p < 0.0001) and stimulus frequency (F = 146.42, p < 0.0001) were significant, whereas the effects of sex (F = 0.83, p = 0.363) and age group (F = 2.11, p = 0.1507) were not significant. The increased sensitivity (classic U-function) at 250 Hz, attributable to the presence of the rapidly adapting Pacinian corpuscles in the glabrous hand, was not apparent in the perioral vibrogram. The absolute threshold values for perioral skin were higher and the magnitude of VDT differences was greater across stimulation frequency compared to glabrous finger VDTs. No significant differences in VDT were apparent between left and right skin sites regardless of sex and age group. Conclusion:The somatosensory hand and perioral face show similar tactile acuity in response to sinusoidal mechanical stimuli ranging from 5 to 300 Hz in preadolescent children and adults. The automated SIUD adaptive VDT tracking algorithm provides clinicians with a reliable tool for rapid assessment of the cutaneous somatosensory system across the lifespan.