NTE-2A Thermal Sensitivity Tester
NTE-2 provides a means of measuring the sensitivity to temperature of a person's hands and feet. The temperature difference between two plates is sensed with fingers and toes, using a two-alternative forced choice paradigm.

Each plate is driven by a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) module; these modules have the unique ability to provide temperatures both above and below room temperature.

Although the NTE-2 is a sophisticated electronic system, it requires no technical knowledge of the user and is designed for high reliability as well as ease of operation.

Temperature of each plate can be adjusted by the associated controller, which also maintains plate temperature at the set point. The digital readout on each controller indicates the actual temperature of its controlled plate. A Physitemp model TH-7D Differential Thermometer gives a direct reading of the temperature difference between the plates.

In operation, a wide temperature difference is usually set at the start. This is successively reduced by adjustment of one controller, until the person can no longer detect any difference between the two plates. The actual temperature difference can then be read in degrees and tenths of degrees, directly from the readout of the Differential Thermometer. No calculations are required.

For stable operation, the plates require a trickle of cooling water. This is supplied from the Pump Tank Unit.