Abstract
Thresholds for detecting electrical stimulation were measured as a function of (1) body locus, (2) electrode configuration, (3) stimulus waveform, and (4) pulse duration. The results were: (1) the forehead gave slightly, but not reliably, lower thresholds than the abdomen; (2) concentric electrodes gave slightly, but not reliably, lower thresholds than unifocal electrodes; (3) cathodal monophasic (−) pulses and biphasic pulses (+/− and −/+) gave identical thresholds, while anodal monophasic (+) pulses gave higher thresholds; and (4) thresholds decreased as pulse duration increased up to .5 msec, but changed less with longer pulses.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Brown, R. L., Spern, R. A., Schmitt, K., &Solomon, A. Stimulus parameter considerations and individual differences in cutaneous sensitivity to electropulse stimulations.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1966,23, 1215–1222.
Dobelle, W. H., Mladejovsky, M. G., Evans, J. R., Roberts, T. S., &Girvin, J. P. ‘Braille’ reading by a blind volunteer by visual cortex stimulation.Nature, 1976,250, 111–112.
Dobelle, W. H., Mladejovsky, M. G., &Girvin, J. P. Artificial vision for the blind: Electrical stimulation of visual cortex offers hope for a functional prosthesis.Science, 1974,183, 440–444.
Gibson, R. H. Electrical stimulation of pain and touch. In D. R. Kenshalo (Ed.),The skin senses. Springfield, Ill: Thomas, 1968.
Gilmer, B. von H. Toward cutaneous electropulse communications.Journal of Psychology, 1961,52, 211–222.
Hahn, J. F. Cutaneous vibratory thresholds for square-wave electrical pulses.Science, 1958,127, 879–880.
Marks, L. E., Girvin, J. P., O’Keefe, M. D., Ning, P., Quest, D. O., Antunes, J. L., &Dobelle, W. H. Electrocutaneous stimulation III. The perception of temporal order.Perception & Psychophysics, 1982,32, 537–541.
Marks, L. E., Girvin, J. P., Quest, D. O., Antunes, J. L., Ning, P., O’Keefe, M. D., &Dobelle, W. H. Electrocutaneous stimulation IL The estimation of distance between two points.Perception A Psychophysics, 1982,32, 529–536.
Mladejovsky, M. G., Eddington, D. K., Evans, J. R., &Dobelle, W. H. A computer-based brain stimulation system to investigate sensory prostheses for the blind and deaf.IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 1976, BME-23, 286–296.
Rollman, G. D. Electrocutaneous stimulation. In F. A. Geldard (Ed.),Cutaneous communication systems and devices. Austin, Tex: The Psychonomic Society, 1974.
Saunders, F. A. Electrocutaneous displays. In F. A. Geldard (Ed.),Cutaneous communication systems and devices. Austin, Tex: The Psychonomic Society, 1974.
Saunders, F. A. Recommended procedures for electrocutaneous displays. In F. T. Hambrecht & J. Reswick (Eds.),Functional electrical stimulation. New York: Dekker, 1977.
Saunders, F. A., &Collins, C. C. Electrical stimulation of the sense of touch.Journal of Biomedical Systems, 1971,2, 27–37.
Szeto, A., &Saunders, F. A. Electrocutaneous stimulation of sensory communication and rehabilitation engineering.IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 1982, BME-23, 300–308.
Taylor, M. M., &Creelman, C. D. PEST: Efficient estimates on probability functions.Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1967,41, 782–787.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF PFR 79-17634).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Girvin, J.P., Marks, L.E., Antunes, J.L. et al. Electrocutaneous stimulation L The effects of stimulus parameters on absolute threshold. Perception & Psychophysics 32, 524–528 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204205
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204205