A portable, low-cost assessment device for reaching times

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human Motor Control

Background:

• Assessing motor function and reaction times is crucial for neurological rehabilitation.
• Existing methods for measuring movement and reaction times can be cumbersome or expensive.
• There is a need for accessible, portable tools to monitor patient progress in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Systematic Test for Assessing Reaching Times (START), an interactive device for measuring reaction and movement times.
• To present START as a portable, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution for clinical use.
• To highlight START's application in stroke rehabilitation and its potential for broader motor control assessments.

Main Methods:

• START utilizes randomly illuminated buttons to prompt reaches to various targets.
• A magnetized wristband and reed switch track hand position, while capacitive sensors detect successful reaches.
• A microcontroller records reaching times with millisecond precision.

Main Results:

• The START device provides accurate measurements of reaction and movement times.
• The system's design allows for standardized setup and data collection.
• Initial use demonstrates START's suitability for assessing upper extremity function in stroke survivors.

Conclusions:

• START is a practical and inexpensive tool for quantifying reaction and movement times.
• Its portability and ease of use make it suitable for clinical environments, particularly for stroke rehabilitation.
• START offers a versatile platform that can be adapted for various motor control and cognitive tasks.