Effects of Psychophysical Scaling Method, Body Test-Site, and Skin-Contactor Surface Area on Vibrotactile Magnitude Functions

Abstract

This study was designed to focus on possible interactive effects that scaling method, body test-site, and skin-contactor surface area might have on vibrotactile magnitude functions. The psychophysical scaling methods of magnitude estimation and magnitude production were used to apply vibrotactile stimulation to the anterior midline of the tongue and the thenar eminence of the hand through the use of three skin-contactor areas (.128, .320, and 1.30 cm3). Ten subjects, ranging in age from 19 to 21 yr. ( M age = 19.8 yr.) were employed. Data obtained from the 10 subjects suggested that the suprathreshold-scaling method chosen can be a significant determinant of the findings obtained. They further suggested that the tongue and hand may respond differently to suprathreshold vibrotactile stimulation and that the effects of varying skin-contactor area may be different for the two body-sites tested.