This study explores the feasibility of using psychophysical methods to assess one component of sensorial comfort—moisture sensation in clothing. We used the psy chophysical method of constant stimuli to assess the absolute and differenoe thresholds of moisture sensation in the upper back area of twelve female volunteers. Wetted fabric swatches applied to the skin served as the stimuli. The psychometric functions demonstrating the relationship between moisture and moisture sensation for these determinations exhibited linear trends similar to those found in other areas of sensory testing using psychophysical methods. We anticipate that this study will provide the first step in a programmatic research effort using psychophysical methods to assess the contribution of moisture sensation as well as other sensorial comfort factors to judgments of clothing comfort.

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This study was part of an overall effort to explore the feasibility of using psychophysical methods to assess one component of sensorial comfort, moisture sensation in clothing, We have used a psychophysical approach to assess the relationship between moisture stimulus intensity and moisture sensation in subjects for one body location and using one fabric type. Thirteen subjects used the method of magnitude estimation to assess the intensities of moisture stimuli applied to their backs; there were highly significant differences between magnitude estimates of the moisture levels. Results showed that subjects were in good agreement on the rank order of the moisture levels. The relationship between moisture stimulus and moisture sensation demonstrated a psychophysical power function. Magnitude estimation offers the clothing comfort investigator the advantage of maintaining closer correspondence between objective and subjective measures over the usual psychological scaling methods used.

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