Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1979 Sep;42(9):793–803. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.42.9.793

Standardised method of determining vibratory perception thresholds for diagnosis and screening in neurological investigation.

J M Goldberg, U Lindblom
PMCID: PMC1082967  PMID: 501379

Abstract

Vibration threshold determinations were made by means of an electromagnetic vibrator at three sites (carpal, tibial, and tarsal), which were primarily selected for examining patients with polyneuropathy. Because of the vast variation demonstrated for both vibrator output and tissue damping, the thresholds were expressed in terms of amplitude of stimulator movement measured by means of an accelerometer, instead of applied voltage which is commonly used. Statistical analysis revealed a higher power of discimination for amplitude measurements at all three stimulus sites. Digital read-out gave the best statistical result and was also most practical. Reference values obtained from 110 healthy males, 10 to 74 years of age, were highly correlated with age for both upper and lower extremities. The variance of the vibration perception threshold was less than that of the disappearance threshold, and determination of the perception threshold alone may be sufficient in most cases.

Full text

PDF
793

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bergström J., Lindblom U., Norée L. O. Preservation of peripheral nerve function in severe uremia during treatment with low protein high calorie diet and surplus of essential amino acids. Acta Neurol Scand. 1975 Feb;51(2):99–109. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1975.tb01363.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. COSH J. A. Studies on the nature of vibration sense. Clin Sci. 1953 May;12(2):131–151. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Calne D. B., Pallis C. A. Vibratory sense: a critical review. Brain. 1966 Dec;89(4):723–746. doi: 10.1093/brain/89.4.723. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DETRE T. P., FELDMAN R. G., ROSNER B., FERRITER C. Vibration perception in normal and schizophrenic subjects. J Neuropsychiatr. 1962 Aug;3(Suppl 1):S–150. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Daniel C. R., 3rd, Bower J. D., Pearson J. E., Holbert R. D. Vibrometry and uremic peripheral neuropathy. South Med J. 1977 Nov;70(11):1311–1313. doi: 10.1097/00007611-197711000-00020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GREGG E. C., Jr Absolute measurement of the vibratory threshold. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1951 Oct;66(4):403–411. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1951.02320100003001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HUNT C. C. On the nature of vibration receptors in the hind limb of the cat. J Physiol. 1961 Jan;155:175–186. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1961.sp006621. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lindblom U., Lund L. The discharge from vibration-sensitive receptors in the monkey foot. Exp Neurol. 1966 Aug;15(4):401–417. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(66)90138-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lindblom U., Meyerson B. A. Influence on touch, vibration and cutaneous pain of dorsal column stimulation in man. Pain. 1975 Sep;1(3):257–270. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(75)90042-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Neilson J. M., Smith D. N., Boardman A. K., Hay R. L., McQuillan W. M., Anthony J. K. Measurement of vibro-tactile threshold in peripheral nerve injury. Lancet. 1969 Sep 27;2(7622):669–671. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90379-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Nielsen V. K. The peripheral nerve function in chronic renal failure. I. Clinical symptoms and signs. Acta Med Scand. 1971 Jul-Aug;190(1-2):105–111. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1971.tb07401.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Nielsen V. K. The peripheral nerve function in chronic renal failure. IV. An analysis of the vibratory perception threshold. Acta Med Scand. 1972 Apr;191(4):287–296. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nielsen V. K. The vibration stimulus. Effects of viscous-elastic resistance of skin on the amplitude of vibrations. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1975 Jun;38(6):647–652. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(75)90167-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. ROSENBERG G. Effect of age on peripheral vibratory perception. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1958 Jun;6(6):471–481. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1958.tb00742.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SATO M. Response of Pacinian corpuscles to sinusoidal vibration. J Physiol. 1961 Dec;159:391–409. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1961.sp006817. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. STEINBERG F. U., GRABER A. L. THE EFFECT OF AGE AND PERIPHERAL CIRCULATION ON THE PERCEPTION OF VIBRATION. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1963 Dec;44:645–650. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sherrick C. E. The art of tactile communication. Am Psychol. 1975 Mar;30(3):353–360. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.30.3.353. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Talbot W. H., Darian-Smith I., Kornhuber H. H., Mountcastle V. B. The sense of flutter-vibration: comparison of the human capacity with response patterns of mechanoreceptive afferents from the monkey hand. J Neurophysiol. 1968 Mar;31(2):301–334. doi: 10.1152/jn.1968.31.2.301. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Verrillo R. T., Ecker A. D. Effects of root or nerve destruction on vibrotactile sensitivity in trigeminal neuralgia. Pain. 1977 Jun;3(3):239–255. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(77)90005-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Verrillo R. T. Effect of spatial parameters on the vibrotactile threshold. J Exp Psychol. 1966 Apr;71(4):570–575. doi: 10.1037/h0023009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES