27 During the last two decades ferrets (Mustela putorius) have been established as a highly 28 efficient animal model in different fields in neuroscience. Here we asked whether ferrets 29 integrate sensory information according to the same principles established for other species. 30 Since only few methods and protocols are available for behaving ferrets we developed a 31 head-free, body-restra...

Thermal thresholds were determined in 40 patients with motor neuron disease and in 40 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The thermal thresholds were estimated on the skin of wrist and ankle using an automated microprocessor controlled system and the "two alternative forced-choice method" of psycholphysical analysis. Abnormalities of thermal thresholds (greater than or equal to 99th percenti...

The authors evaluated epidermal nerve density (END) and thermal thresholds in 18 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). END of patients with CIDP were lower than those of controls (4.5 +/- 2.9 vs 10.5 +/- 3.9 fibers/mm, p < 0.001). Reduced END were associated with autonomic symptoms. Thermal thresholds of patients with CIDP were elevated (88.2% for warm stimuli ...

Small nerve fibre sensory function was assessed by psychophysical estimates of cutaneous thermal thresholds in 30 patients who presented with the symptoms of painful burning feet. Thresholds were abnormal in 12 and normal in 18 patients although symptoms in the two groups were very similar. Various hypotheses for the mechanism of pain in small fibre neuropathy have been proposed previously and ...

Monitoring skin sensitivity is studied to clarify its relationship on balance. Measuring skin sensitivity is performed when subjects are sitting or lying, whereas balance tests are measured during standing. However, afferent signal processing and subsequent efferent responses can be altered by different body positions. Therefore, this study investigated whether vibration perception thresholds (...