Sensation magnitude scales for vibrotactile stimulation of the tongue and thenar eminence

Abstract

This study represents the first attempt to generate magnitude-estimation and magnitude-balance functions for the human tongue. Vibrotactile magnitude scales for the tongue and thenar eminence of the hand were investigated for nine adult subjects. The methods of magnitude estimation and magnitude production were used to obtain magnitude-balance functions for both structures. The magnitude-estimation task resulted in magnitude functions for the tongue which were similar in slope value to those found for the thenar eminence. The magnitude-production task also gave magnitude functions which were similar in slope value for the two structures.