Aging affects attunement in perceiving length by dynamic touch

Earlier studies have revealed age-dependent differences in perception by dynamic touch. In the present study, we examined whether the capacity to learn deteriorates with aging. Adopting an ecological approach to learning, the authors examined the process of attunement—that is, the changes in what informational variable is exploited. Young and elderly adults were trained to perceive the lengths of unseen, handheld rods. It was found that the capacity to attune declines with aging: Contrary to the young adults, the elderly proved unsuccessful in learning to detect the specifying informational variables. The fact that aging affects the capacity to attune sets a new line of research in the study of perception and perceptual-motor skills of elderly. The authors discuss the implications of their findings for the ongoing discussions on the ecological approach to learning

Controlling posture using a plantar pressure-based, tongue-placed tactile biofeedback system

The present paper introduces an original biofeedback system for improving human balance control, whose underlying principle consists in providing additional sensory information related to foot sole pressure distribution to the user through a tongue-placed tactile output device. To assess the effect of this biofeedback system on postural control during quiet standing, ten young healthy adults were asked to stand as immobile as possible with their eyes closed in two conditions of No-biofeedback and Biofeedback. Centre of foot pressure (CoP) displacements were recorded using a force platform. Results showed reduced CoP displacements in the Biofeedback relative to the No-biofeedback condition. The present findings evidenced the ability of the central nervous system to efficiently integrate an artificial plantar-based, tongue-placed tactile biofeedback for controlling control posture during quiet standing

Thermal Sensitivity To Warmth During Rest and Exercise: A Sex Comparison.

Purpose The study aimed to compare thermal sensation in response to a fixed warm stimulus across 31 body locations in resting and active males and females. Methods Twelve males (20.6 ± 1.0 yrs, 78.1 ± 15.6 kg, 180 ± 8.9 cm, 34.4 ± 5.2 ml•kg-1•min-1) and 12 females (20.6 ± 1.4 yrs, 62.9 ± 5.5 kg, 167 ± 5.7 cm, 36.5 ± 6.6 ml•kg-1•min-1) rested in a thermoneutral (22.2 ± 2.2°C, 35.1 ± 5.8% RH) room whilst a thermal probe (25 cm2), set at 40°C was applied in a balanced order to 31 locations across the body. Participants reported their thermal sensation 10 seconds after initial application. Following this, participants began cycling at 50% 〖"V" ̇"O" 〗_"2max" for 20 minutes, which was then lowered to 30% 〖"V" ̇"O" 〗_"2max" and the sensitivity test repeated. Results Females had significantly warmer magnitude sensations than males at all locations (4.7 ± 1.8 vs 3.6 ± 2.2, p0.05). Conclusion The data provides evidence that the thermal sensation response to warmth varies between genders and between body regions and reduces during exercise. These findings have important implications for clothing design and thermophysiological modellin

Distribution of Skin Thermal Sensitivity

The chapter explores measurement techniques to investigate thermal sensitivity of the skin across numerous locations over the body. Different definitions of thermal sensitivity are provided which will inform the method of stimulation. Techniques of stimulating the skin are proposed (e.g., thermal peltier probe, water-perfused suit, or patches), and temperature, surface area, and duration are discussed. Sensitivity can be assessed immediately (transient) or after a given period of time (steady state), and data can be presented in a variety of forms. The chapter proposed presenting the data as body maps to add clarity for the reader and examples are provided