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Biomedical subjects

D Fucci

Publications and source records attributed to D Fucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Lingual vibrotactile threshold and suprathreshold responses of normal-speaking black and white young adults.

A paradigm for studying oral sensory tactile function through use of single frequency vibration applied to the dorsal surface of the tongue was administered to a group of 10 young black women and 10 young white normal-speaking women. Analyses showed no differences between groups with regard to lingual vibrotactile threshold of sensitivity or suprathreshold magnitude-estimation scaling responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hearing threshold shift during auditory magnitude estimation.

The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the extent of hearing threshold shift that may occur during an auditory magnitude-estimation task involving stimulus intensities as great as 80 dB sensation level. Also, possible influences of hearing threshold shift on numerical magnitude-estimation responses and magnitude-function slopes were investigated. Results indicated that hearing threshold shift was insignificant (1-2 dB). Consistent small increases in numerical magnitude responses were observed on a magnitude-estimation task where hearing thresholds were retested between stimulus presentations versus a magnitude-estimation task where hearing thresholds were not retested. The stability of auditory magnitude functions across different conditions in the current investigation was in agreement with vibrotactile magnitude-scaling behavior observed by Fucci, et al. in 1989 and 1991. The over-all results supported the concept of an absolute, internal sensory-scaling mechanism being operable during magnitude estimation of auditory stimuli as discussed by Zwislocki and Goodman in 1980.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Differences in lingual vibrotactile threshold shifts during magnitude-estimation scaling between normal-speaking children and children with articulation problems.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in function of the tactile sensory system between groups of normal-speaking children and children with articulation problems. This task was accomplished by studying possible tactile threshold shifts occurring during magnitude-estimation scaling of vibratory stimuli presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue. 10 normal-speaking children (M age = 7.8 yr.) and 9 children with articulation problems (M age = 7.5 yr.) participated. The normal-speaking children and articulatory defective children performed differently on the magnitude-estimation scaling task in which threshold was allowed to return to baseline after each stimulus presentation. These two groups of children also showed dissimilar threshold shifts for the suprathreshold intensities employed in the magnitude-estimation scaling.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed1991

Magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching of auditory and lingual vibrotactile sensation by normal speakers and stutterers.

The present experiment was a preliminary attempt to employ the psychophysical scaling methods of magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching to investigate suprathreshold auditory and lingual vibrotactile sensation magnitude responses for normal-speaking young adults (N = 20) and young adult stutterers (N = 7). A 1000-Hz binaural auditory stimulus and a 250-Hz lingual vibrotactile stimulus were employed for both procedures. Results indicated that the stutterers tended to use more restricted response ranges than the normal speakers for auditory magnitude scaling, and lower response ranges than the normal speakers for lingual vibrotactile magnitude scaling.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Lingual vibrotactile threshold shift during magnitude-estimation scaling: effects on magnitude-estimation responses and scaling behavior across age.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of age on tactile threshold shifts occurring during magnitude-estimation scaling of vibratory stimuli presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue. Relationships of the lingual vibrotactile threshold shifts to suprathreshold stimulus intensity, magnitude-estimation responses, and over-all scaling behavior were explored. Three groups differing in mean age participated in this study (Group 1 8.05 yr., Group 2 19.46 yr., and Group 3 56.2 yr.). Each subject performed two magnitude-estimation tasks. In one task, threshold of sensitivity was measured after every suprathreshold numerical response to the subject. If a threshold shift was recorded, threshold was allowed to return to the pretest baseline level continuing to the next suprathreshold stimulus presentation. The results showed that threshold shift during magnitude-estimation scaling took place for all three age groups and that the shift was related to the intensity of the suprathreshold vibratory stimulus being applied to the tongue. They also showed that Group 2 (young adults) performed magnitude-estimation scaling differently when threshold shift was controlled than when it was not. The other two groups of subjects were not similarly affected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Lingual vibrotactile threshold shift differences between stutterers and normal speakers during magnitude-estimation scaling.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in tactile sensory system function between stutterers and normal speakers. This task was accomplished by studying possible tactile threshold shifts occurring during magnitude-estimation scaling of vibratory stimuli presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue. Ten normal speaking men (M age = 19.7 yr.) and 10 stutterers (M age = 25.9 yr.) participated. Analysis suggested that stutterers and normal speakers differ in terms of the responsiveness of the sensory mechanism for the lingual tactile threshold to vibratory stimulus intensities applied at suprathreshold levels. The stutterers and normal speakers performed similarly on all aspects of the magnitude-estimation scaling tasks, but the amount of threshold shift occurring during the scaling procedures was significantly greater for the stutterers at each suprathreshold intensity level employed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effects of auditory disruption of lingual tactile sensitivity in skilled and unskilled speaking conditions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of disruption of the auditory feedback channel on lingual vibrotactile thresholds obtained under skilled and unskilled speaking conditions. Each of 22 adults was asked to read an English (skilled) and French (unskilled) passage under conditions of normal and altered auditory feedback. Bilateral presentation of masking noise was utilized to disrupt auditory feedback. Before each of the experimental sessions and immediately following a reading, lingual vibrotactile thresholds were obtained. Analysis indicated that the mean differences in the pre- and postvibrotactile threshold measurements of the skilled auditory disrupted condition varied significantly from the mean differences in the pre- and postvibrotactile threshold measurements of the three other conditions. The role of feedback in the speech production of skilled and unskilled speakers is discussed.

Achievement↗
PubMed1990

Speech clarity/intelligibility: test-retest reliability of magnitude-estimation scaling.

The reliability of magnitude-estimation scaling as a measure of overall clarity of speech was investigated. 40 subjects (M age = 19 yr.) provided magnitude-estimation responses for nine audiotaped versions of a nonsense sentence varying systematically in number of correct consonant phonemes. There was no significant difference in the magnitude-estimation responses of the subjects during two test sessions separated by one week. Analysis suggested that magnitude-estimation scaling is a reliable measure of speech clarity/intelligibility. This finding is discussed in relation to speech samples varying in aspects other than number of consonant phonemes correct and possible further clinical research applications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of lingual vibrotactile suprathreshold numerical responses in men and women: effects of threshold shift during magnitude-estimation scaling.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in tactile sensory system function between men and women. This task was accomplished by studying the effects of possible tactile threshold shifts occurring during magnitude-estimation scaling of vibratory stimuli presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue. 12 men (M age = 19.7 yr.) and 12 women (M age = 19.3 yr.) participated. Analysis suggested that men and women have tactile sensory systems that operate similarly at both threshold and suprathreshold levels of stimulation. Men and women do, however, choose to use consistently different numerical responses to suprathreshold stimuli, suggesting that environmental and/or cultural-educational influences may be involved in numerical decision-making aspects of the scaling process.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching of lingual vibrotactile and auditory sensation.

The present experiment was a preliminary attempt to use the psychophysical scaling methods of magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching to investigate suprathreshold judgments of lingual vibrotactile and auditory sensation magnitudes for 20 normal young adult subjects. A 250-Hz lingual vibrotactile stimulus and a 1000-Hz binaural auditory stimulus were employed. To obtain judgments for nonoral vibrotactile sensory magnitudes, the thenar eminence of the hand was also employed as a test site for 5 additional subjects. Eight stimulus intensities were presented during all experimental tasks. The results showed that the slopes of the log-log vibrotactile magnitude estimation functions decreased at higher stimulus intensity levels for both test sites. Auditory magnitude estimation functions were relatively constant throughout the stimulus range. Cross-modal matching functions for the two stimuli generally agreed with functions predicted from the magnitude estimation data, except when subjects adjusted vibration on the tongue to match auditory stimulus intensities. The results suggested that the methods of magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching may be useful for studying sensory processing in the speech production system. However, systematic investigation of response biases associated with vibrotactile-auditory psychophysical scaling tasks appears to be a prerequisite.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Temporal resolution of the aging tactile sensory system.

Oral and nonoral tactile fusion thresholds were obtained for 39 subjects ranging in age from 12 to 76 yr. Regression analysis of the data indicated a trend for fusion thresholds to become poorer with age. Further statistical testing indicated mean threshold and variability differences between subjects when they were placed into four groups according to age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effects of auditory masking on lingual vibrotactile magnitude-estimation scaling responses of young children.

Studies of lingual vibrotactile magnitude-estimation scaling have focused primarily on the responses of normal young adults. Little is known about the scaling responses of young children to suprathreshold vibratory stimulation because of the complexities of the experimental procedure. Binaural auditory masking is one aspect of the procedure that has recently been studied in adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of binaural auditory masking on lingual vibrotactile magnitude-estimation responses of young children. Four children whose mean age was 4.6 yr. completed magnitude-estimation scaling tasks for eight lingual vibrotactile suprathreshold intensity levels (6, 10, 16, 20, 26, 30, 36, 40 dB SL) under masking and no masking conditions. Results suggest possible effects of auditory masking on the lingual vibrotactile magnitude-estimation scaling responses of these young children that have not been found for such responses of adults.

Auditory Perception↗
PubMed1989

Vibrotactile threshold shift during magnitude-estimation scaling on the hand: effects on magnitude-estimation responses and scaling behavior.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether threshold shifts occurred during magnitude-estimation scaling of suprathreshold stimuli presented to the thenar eminence of the right hand. Possible relationships of the vibrotactile threshold shifts to suprathreshold stimulus intensity, magnitude-estimation responses, and over-all scaling behavior were explored. A single group of 14 subjects whose ages ranged from 18 to 22 yr. participated. Each subject performed two magnitude-estimation tasks. In one of the tasks threshold of sensitivity was determined after every suprathreshold numerical response of the subject. If a threshold shift was recorded, threshold was allowed to return to pretest baseline level before continuation to the next suprathreshold stimulus presentation. Analysis showed that threshold shift did occur during vibrotactile magnitude-estimation scaling on the hand and that it was related to suprathreshold stimulus intensity. Results also showed that the subjects' numerical magnitude-estimation responses and over-all scaling behavior in the form of power function exponents were not statistically different for the two scaling tasks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Lingual vibrotactile threshold shift during magnitude-estimation scaling: effects on magnitude-estimation responses and scaling behavior.

The purpose of the present study was to determine if lingual vibrotactile threshold shifts occurred during magnitude-estimation scaling of suprathreshold stimuli presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue. Possible relationships of the lingual vibrotactile threshold shifts to suprathreshold stimulus intensity, magnitude-estimation responses, and overall scaling behavior were explored. A single group of 24 subjects with an age range of 18 to 22 years participated in this study. Each subject performed two magnitude-estimation tasks. In one of the tasks, threshold of sensitivity was determined after every suprathreshold numerical response of the subject. If a threshold shift was recorded, threshold was allowed to return to the pretest baseline level before continuing to the next suprathreshold stimulus presentation. The results showed that threshold shift did occur during lingual vibrotactile magnitude-estimation scaling, and that it was related to suprathreshold stimulus intensity. The results also showed that the numerical magnitude-estimation responses of the subjects were different for the two scaling tasks. Overall scaling behavior of the subjects in the form of power-function exponents was not different for the two tasks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Exposure effects on the psychophysical scaling methods of magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching for vibrotactile stimulation of the tongue and hand.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate possible effects of exposure upon psychophysical scaling responses when vibrotactile magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching are conducted within the same experiment. Four groups of 10 subjects each, with an over-all age range of 18-23 yr., were employed. Groups 1 and 2 performed magnitude estimation for lingual vibrotaction and cross-modal matching with the lingual vibrotactile stimulus as the standard. Group 1 received the magnitude-estimation task first and Group 2 received the cross-modal-matching task first. Groups 3 and 4 performed magnitude estimation for vibrotaction applied to the thenar eminence of the hand and cross-modal matching with the vibrotactile stimulus applied to the thenar eminence of the hand as the standard. Group 3 received the magnitude-estimation task first and Group 4 received the cross-modal-matching task first. The psychophysical scaling methods of magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching showed very little exposure effect of one upon the other when used in the same experiment. Also, magnitude scaling responses tended to increase more rapidly with increases in vibrotactile stimulus intensity when the test site was the thenar eminence of the hand as opposed to the dorsum of the tongue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

A preliminary report of oral tactile sensation and responses to delayed auditory feedback.

Individual speakers vary widely in their reactions to delayed auditory feedback. In this pilot investigation, 21 adults with normal speech and hearing completed standardized readings under simultaneous and 200-msec. delayed auditory feedback. Minimally and maximally affected speakers were identified. Vibrotactile thresholds were obtained from the tongue and thenar eminence of the right hand for a group of five minimally and a group of five maximally affected speakers. Analysis showed that vibrotactile thresholds were lower (more sensitive) at both assessment sites for the group of maximally affected speakers. This finding is discussed in relation to the possible implications of heightened tactile sensitivity in the control of speech under delayed auditory feedback.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Auditory psychophysical scaling exposure effects: magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate possible effects of exposure upon suprathreshold psychological responses when auditory magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching with audition as the standard are conducted within the same experiment. Four groups of 10 subjects each whose over-all age range was 18 to 23 yr. were employed. During the cross-modal matching task the Groups 1 and 2 subjects adjusted a vibrotactile stimulus presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue and the Groups 3 and 4 subjects adjusted a vibrotactile stimulus presented to the thenar eminence of the right hand to match binaurally presented auditory stimuli. The magnitude-estimation task was conducted before the cross-modal matching task for Groups 1 and 3 and the cross-modal matching task was conducted before the magnitude-estimation task for Groups 2 and 4. The psychophysical methods of magnitude estimation and cross-modal matching showed no effect of one upon the other when used in the same experiment.

Adolescent↗