ACTIVE AND PASSIVE TOUCH AT 4 AGE LEVELS

Three conditions of tactile perception, active touch, passive touch with a moving object and passive touch with a still object, were examined developmentally with 192 subjects in the 1st, 3rd and 5th grades and college. The stimulus objects were 10 geometric forms. Active touch and passive touch with a moving object did not differ significantly, and both were more accurate than passive touch with a still object. All comparisons were made with the palm of the hand. Gradual developmental improvement was found from the 1st grade through college, except for the condition of passive touch with a still object which showed no improvement between 1st and 5th grades, but more accurate performance at the college level. Developmental and touch mode differences were found with some of the 10 geometric objects.