Interlimb Transfer of Changes in Tactual Acuity following Occlusion of a Circumscribed Area of the Skin

Abstract

Three groups of Ss were used, one serving as control and the others exposed to either a week of no tactual stimulation of a circumscribed area on the left forearm or a week of constant light pressure to the same skin area. Two measures of tactual acuity, namely two-point threshold and tactual fusion, were taken before and after each condition. Both measures indicated an increase in acuity following the “no stimulation” condition and a decrease in acuity after constant stimulation. No effect was shown by the control group. Changes in tactual acuity similar to those produced on the experimental arm, but not as pronounced, were also present on a homologous but not on a non-homologous area of the contralateral arm. A differential sensory input hypothesis is postulated as an explanation of the results.