Jeng O J, Radwin R G
University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706, USA.
Ergonomics. 1995 Dec;38(12):2588-601. doi: 10.1080/00140139508925288.
An automated gap detection tactility test was investigated for quantifying sensory deficits associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The test, which involved sensing a tiny gap in an otherwise smooth surface by probing with the finger, had functional resemblance to many work-related tactile activities such as detecting scratches or surface defects. Gap detection thresholds were measured using the converging staircase method of limits paradigm. Sixteen normal subjects between 21 and 66 years of age were tested for studying important factors affecting gap detection thresholds. Actively probing with the index finger had a threshold almost an order of magnitude more sensitive (mean = 0.19 mm, SD = 0.11 mm) than passive touch (mean = 1.63 mm, SD = 0.62 mm), which was similar to two-point discrimination. Average thresholds decreased by 24% as contact force increased from 25 to 75 g. Performance in this tactility test quickly stabilized and showed little learning effects over the period of the test, as evidenced by the lack of significant differences between six replicates. The results were highly repeatable. No significant threshold differences were observed between test and retest trials on different days, or between dominant and non-dominant hands. A contact force of 50 g was recommended as optimal for this test since it required moderate force but resulted in a smaller threshold compared with 25 or 75 g. A companion study was conducted using eight normal subjects and ten subjects diagnosed as having CTS. Average gap detection threshold, when finger probing was allowed, was 0.20 mm (SD = 0.11 min) for the normal subjects and increased two-fold to 0.40 mm (SD = 0.19 mm) for the CTS subjects. Average gap detection threshold, when the finger probing was not allowed, was 1.71 mm (SD = 0.53 mm) for the normal subjects and increased by 48% to 2.53 mm (SD = 0.87 mm) for the CTS subjects. The results suggest that people suffering from CTS may experience similar functional deficits in daily living and work activities. The small inter-subject variability makes this test a candidate for having utility as a monitoring test for loss of cutaneous tactile sensitivity.
研究了一种自动间隙检测触觉测试，用于量化与腕管综合征（CTS）相关的感觉缺陷。该测试通过用手指探测来感知光滑表面上的微小间隙，在功能上类似于许多与工作相关的触觉活动，如检测划痕或表面缺陷。间隙检测阈值采用极限范式的收敛阶梯法进行测量。对16名年龄在21至66岁之间的正常受试者进行了测试，以研究影响间隙检测阈值的重要因素。主动用食指探测的阈值比被动触摸（平均 = 1.63毫米，标准差 = 0.62毫米）敏感近一个数量级（平均 = 0.19毫米，标准差 = 0.11毫米），这与两点辨别相似。随着接触力从25克增加到75克，平均阈值降低了24%。在该触觉测试中，性能迅速稳定，并且在测试期间几乎没有学习效应，六个重复之间缺乏显著差异证明了这一点。结果具有高度可重复性。在不同日期的测试和重新测试试验之间，或优势手和非优势手之间，未观察到显著的阈值差异。建议该测试的最佳接触力为50克，因为与25克或75克相比，它需要适度的力，但阈值更小。使用八名正常受试者和十名被诊断患有CTS的受试者进行了一项配套研究。当允许手指探测时，正常受试者的平均间隙检测阈值为0.20毫米（标准差 = 0.11毫米），CTS受试者则增加了两倍，达到0.40毫米（标准差 = 0.19毫米）。当不允许手指探测时，正常受试者的平均间隙检测阈值为1.71毫米（标准差 = 0.53毫米），CTS受试者则增加了48%，达到2.53毫米（标准差 = 0.87毫米）。结果表明，患有CTS的人在日常生活和工作活动中可能会经历类似的功能缺陷。受试者之间的小变异性使得该测试有作为皮肤触觉敏感性丧失监测测试的实用价值。
