Aging Effects on the Tactile Spatial Sensitivity of Orientation Discrimination by the JVP Domes

Abstract

The JVP domes were widely used to detect the tactile sensitivity reported by participants, which declined with the influence of aging. However, it is still unknown how the decline of tactile spatial sensitivity can influence orientation discrimination. In the current study, we used JVP domes to test the orientation discrimination of older participants (n = 22, age 63 – 77, means = 69.9). Our results found that the accuracy of the wider grating of JVP domes was higher than the narrow grating. Moreover, it is easier for our participants to discriminate vertical and horizontal orientation than left and right. The current study evaluated the decline of tactile ability for older participants and further expanded the application of JVP domes.