Vibration perception in normal man and medical patients.

Abstract

Vibration sensitivity of the index finger was studied in a population of 417 normal subjects. A vibrogram technique based on the Bekesy audiometer was used and found to be most reliable. Results were as follows: men have lower vibratory thresholds than women; an elevation of the vibrogram came with age; men over 45 years of age have a general rise in the threshold curve at all frequencies of stimulation; and in women the thresholds at higher frequencies increase after 20 years of age, while there is little change at the lower frequencies. Analysis of data from 85 patients with various neurological and metabolic diseases showed the following: the patients showed greater variability in threshold than the normal subjects; patients with pernicious anemia, diabetes or seizures tended to have significantly higher thresholds than normal; and between patient groups the only difference found was that those patients with organic brain syndrome had significantly lower vibratory thresholds.