title: Evaluation of physical and emotional responses to vibrotactile stimulation of the forearm in young adults, the elderly, and transradial amputees.
abstract: Vibrotactile stimulation (VS) is widely used in the biomedical and biomechanics fields. Most studies have attempted to verify the effects and/or function of VS, but few studies have evaluated emotional response (ER) to VS, although emotions play a critical role in human behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the subjective response (SR) to VS in young, elderly, and amputee adults and to verify whether VS on the forearm evokes displeasure. Twenty-four young adults (YM: male 13, YF: female 11), 31 elderly subjects (EM: male 15, EF: female 16), and 19 transradial amputees (AM: male 11, AF: female 8) participated. Eight equally spaced vibration motors were attached around the circumference of the forearm (channels 1-4 on the lateral site and channels 5-8 on the medial site) and were located 25% of the proximal forearm. Vibration stimuli with frequencies ranging from 37Hz to 258Hz were applied. An SR 10-level test and ER (displeasure or not) test were performed. In all 3 groups, SRs to the lateral site were higher than those to the medial site (YM group, p<0.001; YF group, p=0.002; EM group, p<0.001; EF group, p=0.031; AM group, p<0.001; AF group, p=0.021). Additionally, SRs were saturated at certain frequencies (YM group, 149Hz; YF and EM groups, 198Hz; EF and AM groups, 120Hz; AF group, 176Hz). Several subjects (YM group, 7; YF group, 4; EM group, 2; EF group, 6; AM group, 3; AF group, 1) expressed displeasure, and ERs were different according to sex, age, or amputation. As a result, the lateral site was more sensitive to VS than the medial site, regardless of sex, age, or amputation. Furthermore, VS may evoke displeasure.
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cyko@korec.re.kr.
authors.forename: Chang-Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yunhee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sol-Bi
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shinki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyoosuk
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeicheong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Museong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.affiliation: Korea Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Research Center, 10, Gyeongin-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-120, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Musung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Tae Soo
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000674:Amputees; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amputee adults; Elderly adults; Rehabilitation; Vibrotactile displeasure; Vibrotactile sensitivity; Vibrotactile stimulation