Abstract
Research has demonstrated that older adults have a lower capacity to maintain core temperature and have lower cutaneous thermal sensitivity than younger adults when exposed to colder environments. Reduced haptic acuity in this population may lead to an increased number of delays, errors, and frustrations in achieving everyday tasks like preparing a subway token, or replacing a hearing aid. A vast number of studies on the impact of cold temperature have examined the performance of humans interacting with cold objects at room temperature. However, because cold is commonly experienced environmentally, it is imperative to develop a deeper understanding of how immersion in cold influences haptic performance. In this study healthy older and younger volunteers participated in a battery of haptic functioning, perceptual acuity, and psychomotor performance tests at room temperature (21oC) and in a simulated cold weather environment (1oC). Our data suggest that, in general, older individuals perform poorer than younger individuals on tests of manual dexterity and haptic acuity regardless of temperature. However, these decrements are exacerbated for tests of uni-manual and bimanual visuomotor coordination when performed in the cold. The results are discussed in regards to the impact cold weather may have on the occupational performance of older adults.Acknowledgments: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada