Developing and assessing a new web-based tapping test for measuring distal movement in Parkinson’s disease: a Distal Finger Tapping test

Disability in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is measured by standardised scales including the MDS-UPDRS, which are subject to high inter and intra-rater variability and fail to capture subtle motor impairment. The BRadykinesia Akinesia INcoordination (BRAIN) test is a validated keyboard tapping test, evaluating proximal upper-limb motor impairment. Here, a new Distal Finger Tapping (DFT) test was developed to assess distal upper-limb function. Kinetic parameters of the test include kinesia score (KS20, key taps over 20 s), akinesia time (AT20, mean dwell-time on each key) and incoordination score (IS20, variance of travelling time between key taps). To develop and evaluate a new keyboard-tapping test for objective and remote distal motor function in PD patients. The DFT and BRAIN tests were assessed in 55 PD patients and 65 controls. Test scores were compared between groups and correlated with the MDS-UPDRS-III finger tapping sub-scores. Nine additional PD patients were recruited for monitoring motor fluctuations. All three parameters discriminated effectively between PD patients and controls, with KS20 performing best, yielding 79% sensitivity for 85% specificity; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.90. A combination of DFT and BRAIN tests improved discrimination (AUC = 0.95). Among three parameters, KS20 showed a moderate correlation with the MDS-UPDRS finger-tapping sub-score (Pearson’s r = − 0.40, p = 0.002). Further, the DFT test detected subtle changes in motor fluctuation states which were not reflected clearly by the MDS-UPDRS-III finger tapping sub-scores. The DFT test is an online tool for assessing distal movements in PD, with future scope for longitudinal monitoring of motor complications.

Modeling of Psychomotor Reactions of a Person Based on Modification of the Tapping Test

The paper considers the method for analysis of a psychophysical state of a person on psychomotor indicators – finger tapping test. The app for mobile phone that generalizes the classic tapping test is developed for experiments. Developed tool allows collecting samples and analyzing them like individual experiments and like dataset as a whole. The data based on statistical methods and optimization of hyperparameters is investigated for anomalies, and an algorithm for reducing their number is developed. The machine learning model is used to predict different features of the dataset. These experiments demonstrate the data structure obtained using finger tapping test. As a result, we gained knowledge of how to conduct experiments for better generalization of the model in future. A method for removing anomalies is developed and it can be used in further research to increase an accuracy of the model. Developed model is a multilayer recurrent neural network that works well with the classification of time series. Error of model learning on a synthetic dataset is 1.5% and on a real data from similar distribution is 5%.

Use of a Smartphone to Gather Parkinson’s Disease Neurological Vital Signs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction. To overcome travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer-based technology was rapidly deployed to the smartphones of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) participating in a 12-month exercise trial. The aim of the project was to determine the feasibility of utilizing a combined synchronous and asynchronous self-administered smartphone application to characterize PD symptoms. Methods. A synchronous video virtual visit was completed for the administration of virtual Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III (vMDS-UPDRS III). Participants asynchronously completed a mobile application consisting of a measure of upper extremity bradykinesia (Finger Tapping Test) and information processing. Results. Twenty-three individuals completed the assessments. The mean vMDS-UPDRS III was 23.65 ± 8.56 points. On average, the number of taps was significantly greater for the less affected limb, 97.96 ± 17.77 taps, compared to the more affected, 89.33 ± 18.66 taps (p = 0.025) with a significantly greater number of freezing episodes for the more affected limb ( p < 0.05 ). Correlation analyses indicated the number of errors and the number of freezing episodes were significantly related to clinical ratings of vMDS-UPDRS III bradykinesia (Rho = 0.44, p < 0.01 ; R = 0.43, p < 0.01 , resp.) and finger tapping performance (Rho = 0.31, p = 0.03 ; Rho = 0.32, p = 0.03 , resp.). Discussion. The objective characterization of bradykinesia, akinesia, and nonmotor function and their relationship with clinical disease metrics indicate smartphone technology provides a remote method of characterizing important aspects of PD performance. While theoretical and position papers have been published on the potential of telemedicine to aid in the management of PD, this report translates the theory into a viable reality.

Pediatric Co-Norms for Finger Tapping, Grip Strength, and Grooved Pegboard in a Community Sample

Objective: Motor tests, including Finger-Tapping Test, Grooved Pegboard Test, and Grip Strength Test, are frequently used by neuropsychologists when assessing pediatric populations. Many of the norms available for these measures are outdated, have not been co-normed, and have samples with limited diversity. This study aims to provide updated, co-norms for three commonly used motor tasks with a diverse population. Method: Participants (n = 476; age range 6–14) were recruited from community settings to complete each of the three motor tests. Results: Results demonstrate generally improved performance across ages with no significant difference between performance of males and females on the Grooved Pegboard Test or the Finger Tapping Test. The only significant findings were on the Grip Strength Test where 12–14-year-old boys demonstrated stronger performance on the dominant hand. Conclusion: This study provides updated and co-normed data on frequently used motor tasks with a diverse pediatric sample, which are useful for clinicians.

A study of effect of a single dose of second generation antihistaminics on cognitive and psychomotor function in healthy human volunteers

Background: Objective of the study was to assess whether second generation antihistaminic alter psychomotor and cognitive function in comparison with promethazine (marked sedation; altered psychomotor and cognitive impairment).Methods: It was a single blind prospective study. Seventy five healthy human volunteers were registered, divided in five groups. These groups have received placebo, promethazine 25 mg, cetirizine 10 mg, fexofenadine 120 mg and loratadine 10 mg. Cognitive and psychomotor functions were assessed pretreatment and 60 minutes after single dose of drug(post treatment)by using a battery of standard tests (e.g. PST-Perceptual speed test, BVRT-Benton visual retention test,SSS- Stanford Sleepiness Scale, FTT-Finger tapping test etc.). The data were analyzed by student’s t-test and ANOVA test.Results: No significant effect was observed in any test parameter with placebo and fexofenadine. Significant difference with promethazine in PST, BVRT, SSS and cetirizine in DSST, FTT and loratadine in DSST were observed. Significant difference was observed in DSST between the placebo and promethazine, in SSS between promethazine and all other drugs. In FTT and BVRT significant difference between the groups were observed.Conclusions: Significant sedation and altered cognitive and psychomotor function were observed with promethazine. Cetirizine and loratadine do not cause sedation but both affect psychomotor functions. No significant effect was produced by fexofenadine. Thus, fexofenadine can safely be used in persons involved in activity where alertness is required while cetirizine and loratadine should be avoided.

Inhibitory Control of Adjacent Finger Movements while Performing a Modified Version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test: Effects of Age, Education and Sex

Objective: Selective motor inhibition is known to decline with age. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of failures at inhibitory control of adjacent finger movements while performing a repetitive finger tapping task in young, middle-aged and older adults. Potential education and sex effects were also evaluated. Methods: Kinematic recordings of adjacent finger movements were obtained on 107 healthy adults (ages 20–80) while they performed a modified version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test (HTFF). Study participants were instructed to inhibit all finger movements while tapping with the index finger. Results: Inability to inhibit adjacent finger movements while performing the task was infrequent in young adults (2.9% of individuals between 20 and 39 years of age) but increased with age (23.3% between the ages of 40 and 59; 31.0% between ages 60 and 80). Females and males did not differ in their inability to inhibit adjacent finger movements, but individuals with a college education showed a lower frequency of failure to inhibit adjacent finger movements (10.3%) compared to those with a high school education (28.6%). These findings were statistically significant only for the dominant hand. Conclusion: Selective motor inhibition failures are most common in the dominant hand and occur primarily in older healthy adults while performing the modified version of the HFTT. Monitoring selective motor inhibition failures may have diagnostic significance.

Finger Tapping bij ouderen

Bij 134 inwoners van gemeente Hoorn van 55 jaar en ouder werd via het computerprogramma Minds een Finger Tapping Test (FTT) afgenomen, om de basale motorische snelheid en de mate van handvoorkeur te bepalen. In tegenstelling tot het standaard gebruik van de test, was er slechts 1 meting van 10 seconden voor elke hand. Resultaten waren in het algemeen in overeenstemming met bevindingen die doorgaans in de literatuur te vinden zijn: er was een hogere snelheid voor de voorkeurshand vergeleken met de niet-voorkeurshand, mannen hadden een hogere motorische snelheid dan vrouwen, en bij personen van 65 jaar en ouder was de snelheid significant lager dan bij de personen onder 65 jaar. Geconcludeerd werd dat deze versie van de FTT een bruikbaar instrument is om de snelheid van de vingermusculatuur te bepalen.