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Measuring Touch Sensitivity in an Aging Population

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Somatosensory Research Methods

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 196))

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Aldrin R. Loomes & Roberta Roberts

  2. School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Harriet A. Allen

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  1. Aldrin R. Loomes
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  2. Roberta Roberts
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  3. Harriet A. Allen
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Correspondence to Aldrin R. Loomes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Nicholas Paul Holmes

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Loomes, A.R., Roberts, R., Allen, H.A. (2023). Measuring Touch Sensitivity in an Aging Population. In: Holmes, N.P. (eds) Somatosensory Research Methods. Neuromethods, vol 196. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3068-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3068-6_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

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