Category Ranking
98%
Total Visits
921
Avg Visit Duration
2 minutes
Citations
20
Article Abstract
Objectives: Tactile acuity is a somatosensory measure of the extent to which humans can discern tactile stimuli. It is influenced by how peripheral signals are processed centrally. In the oral cavity, Occlusal Tactile Acuity (OTA) is the ability to perceive minimal thicknesses between antagonist teeth. The aim of the current study was to assess the association between psychological traits and OTA of otherwise healthy individuals.
Methods: Sixty-three volunteers (32 males; mean age ± SD: 24.6 ± 2.7 years) participated in this study. Somatosensory amplification, anxiety, depression, physical symptoms and pain catastrophizing were scored using questionnaires, and subgroups of severity were created per variable based on cut-offs. OTA was measured using 9 aluminium foils with thickness (ranging from 8 to 72 μm) and one sham test (without foil). Each thickness was tested 10 times in random order, the participants were instructed to report whether they felt the foil between their molars and the mean percentage of correct answers was computed. A linear mixed model was used with OTA as a dependent variable and psychological domain as an independent variable.
Results: Significantly different OTA was observed among the anxiety subgroups (p = .003), supporting a decreased perception of thicknesses 24 and 32 μm (p = .018 and p < .001, respectively) in participants with moderate/severe anxiety compared to those with no/mild anxiety. Significantly different OTA was also observed among the pain catastrophizing subgroups (p = .008), showing decreased perception of thicknesses 32 and 40 μm (p < .001 and p = .007, respectively) in severe catastrophizing levels, compared to no/mild catastrophizing levels. No significant differences were observed for the other variables.
Conclusions: Healthy adults with increased anxiety or pain catastrophizing levels show decreased interdental acuity as compared to participants with minor or no psychological impairment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joor.13828 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Differences in tactile grid localization accuracy between people with back pain compared to individuals without pain.
Musculoskelet Sci Pract
October 2025
Physical Therapist Assistant Department, Lake Area Technical College, 230 11th St. NE, Watertown, SD, 57201, USA.
Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the grid localization test (GLT) between patients with lower back pain and those without back pain.
Methods: Individuals receiving physical therapy were tested before treatment with a GLT to the low back. Testing was performed in the prone position.
Sensitivity and vagal reactivity to C-tactile-mediated affective touch in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease.
J Alzheimers Dis
August 2025
Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
BackgroundC-tactile (CT) afferents preferentially activate in response to slow caress-like touch, evoking a diffuse pleasant sensation and promoting autonomic regulation. According to Braak's classic model, the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer's disease (AD) only affects somatosensory cortices in advanced disease stages; however, the processing of complex sensory stimuli, such as CT-mediated Affective Touch, may be impacted in earlier phases.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to assess the behavioral and psychophysiological response to CT-targeted touch in a group of biomarker-tested patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, compared to a group of age, sex, and education matched controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDirectional vibro-tactile hazard warnings for drivers with vision impairments.
Assist Technol
July 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, USA.
Vision impairment may delay responses to hazards when driving. In a proof-of-concept driving simulator study, we evaluated a hazard warning device designed for vision impaired drivers. Three groups participated: 11 persons with central vision loss (CVL; median age 60 years), 12 with homonymous field loss (HFL; 52 years) and 11 with normal vision (NV; 60 years).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmputation of a lower limb not only affects mobility but also interferes with sensory feedback, leading to an elevated risk of falls among individuals living with amputation. Sensory substitution, achieved through tactile displays embedded in transfemoral prosthetic sockets, presents a promising non-invasive solution to provide artificial sensation to users. However, for this approach to be effective, users must accurately perceive distinct combinations of vibrations, a capacity limited by their two-point discrimination ability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeasuring the Distribution of Tactile Acuity at the Index Finger and Thumb Fingertips.
IEEE Trans Haptics
June 2025
In our day-to-day activities, we utilize not only the pads of our fingers but also the sides and hemispherical tips when manipulating objects. For teleoperation systems to replicate these real-life interactions, tactile sensation must be presented and distributed across the entire fingertip. Thus, understanding the distribution of tactile acuity at the fingertip is imperative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF