The effect of local anesthesia on tactile and vibratory thresholds.

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Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the nature of the peripheral mechanism of vibratory sensitivity. Absolute thresholds for touch and vibration were determined before and after cutaneous anesthesia. Anesthesia was obtained by an electro-endosmotic method which permitted an accurate control of the number of touch receptors anesthetized, with little likelihood of affecting end-organs in the subcutaneous tissues. There was complete loss of tactual sensitivity with anesthesia of a 4 sq. cm. area of the skin. Under the same conditions there was a slight but consistent decrease in vibratory sensitivity. The absence of a greater loss in vibratory sensitivity might be due to a spread of stimulation along the surface of the skin or to a response of receptors in the underlying tissues. The fact that an increase in the size of the anesthetized area to 9 sq. cm. caused no additional loss in vibratory sensitivity disproves the former possibility. The results are most adequately explained on the theory that both superficial and deep mechanical receptors contribute impulses that give rise to vibratory experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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