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At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Neural mechanisms of scanned and stationary touch.

The neural mechanisms subserving the sense of touch set the limits for the acquisition of information regarding the spatial and temporal characteristics of stimuli impinging on the skin surface. The results of three different psychophysical experiments imply that the skin of the finger pad can resolve the elements of a stimulus separated by 0.9 mm when the stimulus is applied to the skin and held stationary. This resolution limit is only slightly improved (to about 0.7 mm) when movement between the stimulus and skin is allowed. Single-unit recordings from three classes of primary mechanoreceptive afferents in anesthetized monkeys shows that only one class, the slowly adapting afferents, resolve spatial detail of stationary stimuli near the resolution limit. In addition, slow adaptors appear to resolve moving stimuli (e.g., Braille-dot patterns) more effectively than do the other two classes. However, these observations do not explain the extraordinary capacity of the finger-pad skin for discriminating between fine textures. Neurophysiological evidence suggests that information about such textures (i.e., surfaces with spatial details below the resolution limit) may be conveyed by a code based on the relative engagement of the three receptor populations.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

Four channels mediate the mechanical aspects of touch.

Although previous physiological and anatomical experiments have identified four afferent fiber types (PC, RA, SA II, and SA I) in glabrous (nonhairy) skin of the human somatosensory periphery, only three have been shown to mediate tactile (mechanoreceptive) sensation. Psychophysical evidence that four channels (P, NP I, NP II, and NP III) do, indeed, participate in the perceptual process is presented. In a series of experiments involving selective masking of the various channels, modification of the skin-surface temperature, and testing cutaneous sensitivity down to very low-vibratory frequencies, the fourth psychophysical channel (NP III) is defined. Based on these experiments and previous work from our laboratory, it is concluded that the four channels work in conjunction at threshold to create an operating range for the perception of vibration that extends from at least 0.4 to greater than 500 Hz. Each of the four channels appears to mediate specific portions of the overall threshold-frequency characteristic. Selection of appropriate neural-response criteria from previously published physiological data and correlation of their derived frequency characteristics with the four psychophysical channels indicates that each channel has its own physiological substrate: P channel and PC fibers, NP I channel and RA fibers, NP II channel and SA II fibers, and NP III channel and SA I fibers. These channels partially overlap in their absolute sensitivities, making it likely that suprathreshold stimuli may activate two or more of the channels at the same time. Thus the perceptual qualities of touch may be determined by the combined inputs from four channels.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

High-resolution thin-film device to sense texture by touch.

Touch (or tactile) sensors are gaining renewed interest as the level of sophistication in the application of minimum invasive surgery and humanoid robots increases. The spatial resolution of current large-area (greater than 1 cm(2)) tactile sensor lags by more than an order of magnitude compared with the human finger. By using metal and semiconducting nanoparticles, a approximately 100-nm-thick, large-area thin-film device is self-assembled such that the change in current density through the film and the electroluminescent light intensity are linearly proportional to the local stress. A stress image is obtained by pressing a copper grid and a United States 1-cent coin on the device and focusing the resulting electroluminescent light directly on the charge-coupled device. Both the lateral and height resolution of texture are comparable to the human finger at similar stress levels of approximately 10 kilopascals.

Fingers↗
PubMed2006

Touch detection of neonatal hypothermia in Nepal.

The use of touch by health workers to detect hypothermia was examined in 250 newborns in Nepal. Palpation of the feet shows fair interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.4-0.7) and high sensitivity (>80%) but low specificity (36%-74%) compared with axillary thermometry. Traditional birth attendants should feel an infant's feet to detect hypothermia.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1990

Touch and surgical division of the anterior quadrant of the spinal cord.

An investigation was carried out to determine whether tactile sensibility was affected by anterolateral cordotomy. There were 65 patients who had cordotomies for painful forms of cancer. Thirty eight had necropsy examination with histological investigation of the spinal cord. No form of mechanoreception was removed in any of the 65 patients and in the majority no forms of tactile sensibility were altered by division of the pathways in the anterolateral and anterior columns. In no case was graphaesthesia affected. Knowledge of joint position and movement and awareness of vibration was normal in 62 of the 65 patients. But information carried by these anterolateral pathways does reach neural levels of consciousness, for with total lesions of the posterior columns, previously reported, touch and pressure are still felt. Itch was removed by division of the anterolateral pathways. Although the posterior columns are essential for discrimination in mechanoreception, discrimination may be disturbed by lesions of the anterolateral pathways, notably two-point discrimination. The evidence on the pathways essential for conveying impulses giving rise to tickle was inconclusive.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2002

Transducing touch in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Mechanosensation has been studied for decades, but understanding of its molecular mechanism is only now emerging from studies in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. In both cases, the entry point proved to be genetic screens that allowed molecules needed for mechanosensation to be identified without any prior understanding of the likely components. In C. elegans, genetic screens revealed molecules needed for touch sensation along the body wall and other regions of force sensitivity. Members of two extensive membrane protein families have emerged as candidate sensory mechanotransduction channels: mec-4 and mec-10, which encode amiloride-sensitive channels (ASCs or DEG/ENaCs), and osm-9, which encodes a TRP ion channel. There are roughly 50 other members of these families whose functions in C. elegans are unknown. This article classifies these channels in C. elegans, with an emphasis on insights into their function derived from mutation. We also review the neuronal cell types in which these channels might be expressed and mediate mechanotransduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of the perceptual threshold of touch (PTT) with high-frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (Hf/TENS) in elderly patients with stroke: a reliability study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inter-rater reliability and reliability between occasions of assessing the perceptual threshold of touch (PTT) with high-frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (Hf/TENS) in elderly patients with stroke. DESIGN: A test-retest study of reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and limits of agreement. SETTING: Geriatric rehabilitation unit. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two consecutive patients with stroke > or = 65 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two-channel current stimulator TENS CEFAR Tempo with four self-adhesive skin electrodes. The stimulator delivered a high-frequency constant current of 40 Hz. The strength of the stimulation was quantifiable and assessed in milliampere (mA). INTERVENTIONS: The assessments were performed on the hands and feet by two raters. The PTT was identified as the level registered in milliampere (mA) at which the patients perceived a tingling sensation. RESULTS: The ICC values (0.94-0.99) were shown to be good for inter-rater reliability, as well as reliability between occasions. However an additional analysis with limits of agreement showed a high level of agreement for assessment of the hand but a moderate to low agreement for assessment of the foot where some bias was also identified. Clinical acceptable reliability: > or = 1 mA for the hand and > or = 5 mA for the foot are so far recommended for establishing real differences in clinical measures. CONCLUSION: Hf/TENS shows an overall high reliability for assessing the PTT of the hand and moderate to low reliability for the foot. Additional research with exclusion of bias is needed to determine the reliability of assessing the foot.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Rogerian science, phantoms, and therapeutic touch: exploring potentials.

Traditional medical approaches to the treatment of potentially distressing phantom pain and sensations have been inconsistent in their success. In this article, the subject of phantom pain and sensations is explored and reconceptualized according to Martha Rogers' science of unitary human beings. Emergent perspectives, illustrated by a series of short case studies, suggest that such a reconceptualization and particularly the use of therapeutic touch may have a significant impact on positive human field image patterning.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Effects of integrating therapeutic touch into a cognitive behavioral pain treatment program. Report of a pilot clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of offering Therapeutic Touch (TT) as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for people with chronic pain. Patients were randomized to relaxation training (control group) or TT plus relaxation (experimental). Subsequently, all participants attended a CBT program. Preprogram and postprogram data were examined to identify patterns of change in pain intensity, self-efficacy, unitary power, disability, and perceived distress. In addition, patterns of attrition were examined. Patients in this study who were randomized to receive TT fared better in terms of enhanced self-efficacy and unitary power, as well as having lower attrition rates. Trends associated TT with less distress and disability. This pilot study suggests that offering TT as an adjunct to CBT may help to improve clinical outcomes, reduce program attrition, and promote unitary power in those who suffer with chronic pain.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

The effect of an educational intervention on willingness to receive therapeutic touch.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to test the effect of an educational intervention on participants' willingness to receive Therapeutic Touch (TT). A sample of 108 participants was recruited from three area nursing programs and one professional business women's group. Participants completed questionnaires before and after a 10-minute talk on TT and a 5-minute demonstration of TT. Participants were asked to rank their willingness to experience a TT treatment and to explain the reasons for their rankings. The hypothesis that the intervention would increase participants' willingness to experience TT was supported; there was a significant difference in pre- and postintervention willingness to experience TT.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A pilot study of healing touch and progressive relaxation for chronic neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury.

This pilot study assessed the role of Healing Touch (HT), an energy-based therapy, in modulating chronic neuropathic pain and the associated psychological distress from post spinal cord injury. Twelve veterans were assigned to either HT or guided progressive relaxation for six weekly home visits. The instruments selected showed sensitivity, although there was a large variation among the groups. There was a significant difference in the composite of interference on the Brief Pain Inventory (t = -2.71, p = .035). The mean score of the fatigue subscale of the Profile of Moods decreased (ns) in the HT group and in the subscale of confusion yet remained stable in the control group. The Diener Satisfaction With Life Scale showed increased well-being in the HT group and no change in the control group. Participants reported various experiences with HT sessions indicating that it may have benefit in the complex response to chronic pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The child's perception of the human energy field using Therapeutic Touch.

This is a descriptive, exploratory, phenomenological study on children's lived experiences of perceiving the human energy field using Therapeutic Touch (TT). Eleven children, 3 to 9 years of age, willingly participated in the study. The study's findings suggest that children can feel the human energy field with purpose or intent to help, thus supporting TT as an innate potential.

Child↗
PubMed1997

The effectiveness of therapeutic touch for decreasing pain in elders with degenerative arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to determine if Therapeutic Touch (TT) decreased pain in elders with degenerative arthritis, compared with routine treatment and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Eighty-two noninstitutionalized subjects, age 55 or older, were randomly assigned to TT or PMR treatments. Subjects served as their own controls for 4 weeks and then received six treatments at 1-week intervals. Visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain intensity and distress were used. Significant differences from baseline to postsixth treatment were found within groups. TT decreased pain (t(46) = 7.60, p = < .001) and distress (t(44) = 7.08, p = < .001). PMR decreased pain (t(36) = 6.58, p = .005) and distress (t(36) = 6.90, p = < .001). Differences in effectiveness existed between the TT and PMR groups; the pain and distress scores were lower in the PMR group. The differences approached significance for pain, F(2, 76) = 2.8, p = .06, and were significant for distress, F(2, 75) = 5.6, p = .005.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

The experience of therapeutic touch for novice recipients.

This study explored the experience of receiving Therapeutic Touch (TT) from the point of view of recipients with no prior experience with TT. Eleven female graduate students who were part of a larger study were interviewed after the second of two TT sessions and statements from the transcripts were analyzed for words, phrases, or sentences that fell into one of five categories: (a) relaxation, (b) physical sensations, (c) cognitive activity, (d) emotional (feelings), and (e) spiritual/transcendent. All participants reported feeling relaxed and had physical sensations and cognitive activity during the TT sessions, and most of the statements fit into these categories. Fewer statements reflected emotional or spiritual experiences and not all participants had these experiences. The sensations associated with TT may occur developmentally. Initially, physical and cognitive experiences are identified. The deeper, meaningful sensations may occur after an individual has more experience with the intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer.

Complementary therapies are increasingly used to reduce side effects of cancer treatment, without evidence for their effectiveness. In a randomized, prospective, 2-period, crossover intervention study, the authors tested the effects of therapeutic massage (MT) and healing touch (HT), in comparison to presence alone or standard care, in inducing relaxation and reducing symptoms in 230 subjects. MT and HT lowered blood pressure, respiratory rate (RR), and heart rate (HR). MT lowered anxiety and HT lowered fatigue, and both lowered total mood disturbance. Pain ratings were lower after MT and HT, with 4-week nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use less during MT. There were no effects on nausea. Presence reduced RR and HR but did not differ from standard care on any measure of pain, nausea, mood states, anxiety, or fatigue. MT and HT are more effective than presence alone or standard care in reducing pain, mood disturbance, and fatigue in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Therapeutic touch, quiet time, and dialogue: perceptions of women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To compare the perceptions of women with breast cancer to an experimental therapeutic touch (TT) plus dialogue nursing intervention with perceptions of a control quiet time plus dialogue nursing intervention. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on the Science of Unitary Human Beings. SETTING: Data collected as part of a larger experimental study of the effects of TT on pre- and postoperative anxiety and mood and postoperative pain in women with breast cancer. SAMPLE: 18 women with early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: Telephone interviews at the completion of an experimental or control nursing intervention administered in the women's homes before and after breast cancer surgery. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Women's perceptions of participation in a study of the effects of dialogue and TT or quiet time. FINDINGS: Content analysis of transcribed telephone interviews revealed few differences in participants' perceptions of experimental and control interventions. Only participants who received the experimental intervention reported body sensations, and only participants in the control group inquired about the study and its purpose. Regardless of experimental or control intervention participation, women expressed feelings of calmness, relaxation, security, and comfort and a sense of awareness. The few women who commented about the nurse who administered the experimental or control intervention indicated that the nurse was empathetic, concerned, supportive, or helpful. CONCLUSIONS: The women regarded either nursing intervention as a positive experience. Some also expressed positive regard for the research nurse. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses who are not trained in the administration of TT may use quiet time and dialogue to enhance feelings of calmness and relaxation in patients with breast cancer.

Anxiety↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The experience of therapeutic touch from a nursing perspective.

This article describes the phenomenon of therapeutic touch (TT). Similarities and differences in the experience of the phenomenon from the perspective of a novice practitioner and healthy volunteers are highlighted. A qualitative analysis of findings indicates that the experiences of giving and receiving TT can be classified within two categories: the cognitive (knowing in the widest sense); and conative (instinct and feeling). The key constructs which emerged in this study are associated with feelings such as tingling, warmth, coolness, comfort, peace, calm and security. Formulation of the two main categories, cognitive and conative, emphasize the relationship associated with what is known by the mind and instinctively felt by the body. The holistic aspects associated with the phenomenon of TT are confirmed in the therapeutic relationship which can be formed between the practitioner and recipient during the administration of TT. It is suggested that TT, when provided by the nurse in the clinical setting, can promote feelings of comfort, peace, calm and security among patients.

Adult↗