Sensation Testing
Sensation Testing - Related Videos
07:28
A Protocol of Manual Tests to Measure Sensation and Pain in Humans
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Cited by 24 •
2016
The goal of this procedure is to demonstrate a battery of quantitative techniques for sensory and pain measurement in humans. The equipment and techniques described are commonly found in pain clinics or are easy to obtain.
11:32
Perspectives on Sensation and Perception
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2023
Source: Laboratory of Jonathan Flombaum—Johns Hopkins University The study of sensation—how signals are transduced from sensory organs, like the eyes—and perception—how the brain interprets these messages—has a rich history dating back to the 19th century, when great strides were made in understanding the properties of light and how they relate to the visual system. Importantly, such sensory and perceptual processes determine what we see, feel, taste, and hear in our surroundings. However, many...
08:39
Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse
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Cited by 27 •
2010
In this protocol we describe a method of operant learning using sensory stimuli as a reinforcer in the mouse. It requires no prior training or food restriction, and it allows the study of motivated behavior without the use of a pharmacological or natural reinforcer such as food.
07:54
Design, Fabrication, and Administration of the Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe)
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Cited by 1 •
2015
The Hand Active Sensation Test (HASTe) is a valid and reliable measure of haptic performance, which has been used successfully to identify impaired haptic touch in individuals with stroke. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design, fabrication and administration of the HASTe.
01:21
Sensation
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2024
Sensory receptors are specialized neurons that respond to specific types of external stimuli, initiating the process known as sensation. This occurs when sensory input, such as light entering the eye, is detected by these receptors, causing chemical changes in the cells of the retina. These cells then convert the sensory stimulus into action potentials that are transmitted to the central nervous system, a process termed transduction. Absolute thresholds can quantify the sensitivity of sensory...
FAQs
Different stimulus types probe different sensory functions. Light touch, pinprick, vibration, temperature, and joint-position cues can reveal whether a patient detects contact, pain-related stimulation, thermal change, vibration, or limb-position information. Using more than one modality helps characterize altered sensitivity rather than treating all sensory findings as a single deficit.
Comparing responses across body regions, between the left and right sides, and along dermatomes gives the examination its localizing value. A finding confined to a particular distribution may suggest a different site of dysfunction than a broader or asymmetrical change. These comparisons help relate patient responses to peripheral nerves, spinal pathways, or brain function.
Sensation testing can identify both reduced detection and altered sensitivity, so interpretation depends on how the response differs from a comparison area. The clinician does not rely only on whether a stimulus is felt; the distribution and character of the change also matter when considering neurological localization and whether findings involve peripheral nerves, spinal pathways, or brain function.
The examination proceeds by applying a controlled stimulus and recording the patient’s response, then comparing that response across relevant body regions, sides, or dermatomes. The clinician may use several stimulus types in the same assessment, including light touch, pinprick, vibration, temperature, and joint-position cues. This structured comparison turns individual responses into a distributional pattern.
The clinician can select among light touch, pinprick, vibration, temperature, and joint-position cues. Each provides a different kind of sensory information, allowing responses to be examined across multiple modalities rather than through one stimulus alone. The resulting pattern can show whether sensitivity changes are limited to a particular function or appear across several tested functions.
Clinicians use the assessment during neurological examinations and when evaluating suspected injury or disease. It can document sensory findings at one point in time and provide a basis for monitoring progression. Repeating the examination can also help assess recovery after treatment by showing whether previously identified sensory changes persist, change, or improve.
The distribution of abnormal responses helps connect clinical findings with possible dysfunction in peripheral nerves, spinal pathways, or brain function. For follow-up, comparisons across sides, regions, or dermatomes can show whether a pattern remains stable or changes over time. This makes the assessment useful for evaluating disease or injury progression and recovery after treatment.