Localization of a constant-touch and moving-touch stimulus in the hand: a preliminary study

There are limited normative data available defining a subject's ability to localize a constant-touch or moving-touch stimulus. The results that are obtainable to date have not been objectively measured so that they are reproducible. This study of a normal population suggests a standard to measure the error in a patient's capacity to localize both a constant-touch and a moving-touch stimulus. The normative data demonstrate that in considering the ability to localize a constant-touch stimulus, there was less error of localization in the fingers than in the palm. The most sensitive finger was the index. In testing for localization of a moving-touch stimulus, seven types of responses were identified and classified. The procedure outlined in this study offers a means both to document the degree of sensory impairment in a more consistent manner and to objectively measure results of early-phase sensory re-education.