title: Influence of age on thermal thresholds, thermal pain thresholds, and reaction time.
abstract: The main goals of this study were to investigate the effect of age on thermal and thermal pain thresholds and reaction time, and to analyze the influence of age-related changes in reaction time on thermal and thermal pain thresholds. Thermal thresholds (warm/cold) and thermal pain thresholds (hot/cold) were evaluated by the method of limits. Visual reaction time was evaluated in a similar way by a customized computer program. In total, 274 normal subjects (23-87 years old) were recruited. Thermal thresholds, thermal pain thresholds, and reaction time were all related to age. While warm and cold thresholds and cold pain thresholds increased with age, hot pain thresholds decreased with age. The age-related change in reaction time was insufficient to explain the age-related changes in thermal and thermal pain thresholds. In conclusion, age affects thermal and thermal pain thresholds independently of reaction time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Han-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chou-Ching K
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011336:Probability; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult