Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
06:58
Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
Published on: September 23, 2025
Aging and the discrimination of object weight
J Farley Norman1, Hideko F Norman, Jessica M Swindle
1Department of Psychology, 1906 College Heights Blvd. #21030, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1030, USA. Farley.Norman@wku.edu
Perception
|November 17, 2009
Summary
Older adults have a significantly reduced ability to discriminate object weights compared to younger adults. This age-related decline in tactile sensory perception impacts weight discrimination tasks.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human Perception
- Gerontology
Background:
- Assessing age-related changes in sensory perception is crucial for understanding functional declines in older adults.
- Weight discrimination is a key aspect of tactile sensory function that may be affected by aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in the ability to discriminate object weights.
- To quantify the difference thresholds for lifted weight perception in younger and older adults.
Main Methods:
- A 2-alternative forced-choice method of constant stimuli was employed.
- Difference thresholds for lifted weight were measured in 12 younger (mean age 21.5) and 12 older (mean age 71.3) adults.
- A 100 g standard weight with test weights ranging from 85 to 115 g was used.
Main Results:
- Older observers exhibited difference thresholds 57.6% higher than younger observers.
- Average difference thresholds were 10.4% of the standard for older adults and 6.6% for younger adults.
- This indicates a significant age-related decline in weight discrimination ability.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates an age-related deterioration in the capacity to discriminate lifted object weights.
- These findings contribute to a clearer understanding of sensory changes associated with aging.
Related Concept Videos
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who are...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are not...
01:29Bone Disorders
Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:09Apparent Weight
True weight is the measure of the gravitational force acting on an object. However, if the object accelerates, its measured weight is different from its true weight. Similar observations can be made when the object is submerged in water. An object's weight in water is its apparent weight, which is equal to the difference between its true weight and the buoyant forces.
Consider a person standing on a bathroom scale inside an elevator. If the scale is accurate at rest, its reading equals the...
Consider a person standing on a bathroom scale inside an elevator. If the scale is accurate at rest, its reading equals the...
01:21Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II
A rigid body is in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system are equal to zero.
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?