Electrotactile Frequency, Amplitude, and Temporal Gap Discrimination in Young Adults, Older Adults, and Stroke Survivors

NCT07656675 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026-05-012-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare sensory discrimination ability for electrotactile stimulation among young adults, older adults, and patients with stroke. Participants will receive non-invasive electrotactile stimulation through electrodes attached to the skin of the upper limb, such as the fingertip, palm, elbow, or shoulder, depending on the stimulation condition. The study will assess discrimination thresholds for changes in stimulation frequency, stimulation amplitude, and temporal gaps in stimulation, together with task accuracy and reaction time. The results are expected to provide foundational data for sensory assessment, electrotactile feedback design, and sensory-based rehabilitation technologies for older adults and stroke patients.

Conditions

Stroke

Keywords

Electrotactile stimulation; Sensory discrimination; Just noticeable difference; Tactile perception; Proprioception; Stroke rehabilitation; Aging; Cognitive load

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Just Noticeable Difference for Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination

  The just noticeable difference (JND) will be calculated as the minimum detectable difference for electrotactile stimulation frequency and amplitude, and as the threshold for detecting temporal gaps in stimulation during the electrotactile sensory discrimination tasks.

  During the experimental session, up to 2 days for young and older adult participants and 1 day for stroke patients

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Reaction Time During Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Tasks

  During the experimental session, up to 2 days for young and older adult participants and 1 day for stroke patients

Other Outcomes (2)

• Effect of Cognitive Load on Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Performance

  During the experimental session, up to 2 days

• Accuracy in Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Tasks

  During the experimental session, up to 2 days for young and older adult participants and 1 day for participants with stroke.

Study Arms (3)

Young adults

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants aged 19 to 54 years with tactile sensation in the hands and fingers. Participants in this group will perform electrotactile sensory discrimination tasks to assess discrimination thresholds for stimulation frequency, stimulation amplitude, and temporal gaps, as well as task accuracy and reaction time. This group may also complete both focused and cognitive load conditions.

Behavioral: Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Tasks

Older adults

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants aged 55 to 70 years with tactile sensation in the hands and fingers. Participants in this group will perform electrotactile sensory discrimination tasks to assess discrimination thresholds for stimulation frequency, stimulation amplitude, and temporal gaps, as well as task accuracy and reaction time. This group may also complete both focused and cognitive load conditions.

Behavioral: Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Tasks

Stroke patients

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants aged 19 years or older who have been diagnosed with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke confirmed by CT or MRI and who have proprioceptive sensory impairment with residual tactile sensation in the fingertip. Participants in this group will undergo preliminary assessments of cognitive function, upper-limb motor function, proprioception, cutaneous sensation, and hand function before performing electrotactile sensory discrimination tasks. Stroke patients will participate in a single study visit and will not undergo the cognitive load condition to minimize fatigue and experimental burden.

Behavioral: Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Tasks

Interventions

Electrotactile Sensory Discrimination Tasks BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive non-invasive electrotactile stimulation through surface electrodes attached to the upper limb, such as the fingertip, palm, elbow, or shoulder, depending on the stimulation condition. Participants will perform sensory discrimination tasks to assess their ability to discriminate changes in stimulation frequency, stimulation amplitude, and temporal gaps in stimulation. Stimulation intensity will be individualized based on each participant's perception threshold and discomfort threshold and will remain below the discomfort threshold throughout the experiment. Task performance, including just noticeable difference, task accuracy, and reaction time, will be recorded.

Older adults; Stroke patients; Young adults

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Young Adult Group:
• Age 19 to 54 years.
• Has tactile sensation in the hands and fingers.
• Provides voluntary written informed consent personally or through a legally authorized representative, if applicable.
• Older Adult Group:
• Age 55 to 70 years.
• Has tactile sensation in the hands and fingers.
• Provides voluntary written informed consent personally or through a legally authorized representative, if applicable.
• Stroke Patient Group:
• Age 19 years or older.
• Diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
• Stroke confirmed by CT or MRI.
• Stroke accompanied by proprioceptive sensory impairment.
• Residual tactile sensation in the fingertip.
• Provides voluntary written informed consent personally or through a legally authorized representative,

You may not qualify if:

• Young and Older Adult Groups:
• Absence of tactile sensation in the hands or fingers.
• Congenital deformity of the hands or fingers.
• Presence of a major pre-existing neurogenic disease.
• Presence of a major psychiatric disorder, such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or dementia.
• Implanted pacemaker.
• Stroke Patient Group:
• Difficulty communicating due to K-MMSE score \< 23, severe language impairment, or similar condition.
• Absence of tactile sensation in the hands or fingers.
• Congenital deformity of the hands or fingers.
• Severe pain during elbow joint or finger movement.
• Progressive or unstable stroke.
• Presence of hemispatial neglect.
• Presence of a major pre-existing neurogenic disease.
• Presence of a major psychiatric disorder, such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or dementia.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sungkyunkwan University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

• Hangue Park, PhD

  Sungkyunkwan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

June Seung Lee, MS

CONTACT

+82-10-2087-0016; iijjuness@g.skku.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking will be used because participants are grouped according to age and clinical status, and the study procedures involve behavioral electrotactile sensory discrimination tasks.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Participants will be assigned to one of three groups based on age and clinical status: young adults, older adults, and patients with stroke. All participants will perform electrotactile sensory discrimination tasks, and outcomes including just noticeable difference, task accuracy, and reaction time will be compared across groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2026
• First Posted: June 18, 2026
• Study Start: June 11, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 11, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2028
• Last Updated: June 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share