Normative Reference Value for Stereognosis Among Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Abstract

Processing of sensory input entails recognizing, categorizing, and interpreting data to generate an adaptive reaction. The sensory sub-types include barognosis, stereognosis, graphesthesia, two-point discrimination, and tactile localization. Stereognosis is the capacity to recognise the form and shape of a three-dimensional item and, consequently, its identity, by tactile manipulation of that object in the absence of visual and aural inputs. Therefore, manual stereognosis is necessary for integrating all hand sensations. So, the aim of this study is to determine the normal reaction time of manual stereognosis in adults.A pilot cross-sectional study was done on age group of 18-40 years. The stereognosis test was performed first on dominant hand and then on non-dominant hand using 5 objects (key, coin, safety pin, comb, pencil) with participant’s eyes closed during the test. The time taken to identify the objects was recorded using stopwatch. Then, mean normal reaction time was calculated. Student t-test was used to compare any differences between right & left-hand side stereognosis and between male & female gender.Results from the study show normal mean values of reaction time in seconds was 3.04 for right hand and 2.09 for left hand in adults. Data also shows that there were statistically significant differences between right & left-hand side stereognosis. However, no differences were found between male & female stereognosis using independent t-test.These normative results of data will serve as a useful, simple, reproducible, rapid assessment of stereognosis and also aid in planning of treatment.