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Finger tapping: effects of trials and sessions
D M Gill1, J R Reddon, W O Stefanyk
1Department of Neuropsychology, Alberta Hospital Edmonton, Canada.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 1, 1986
Summary
The Halstead Manual Finger Tapping test shows high reliability for assessing manual dexterity in adults. Performance showed no fatigue but improved over time, especially in men.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Human Performance
Background:
- Assessing manual dexterity is crucial for understanding motor control.
- The Halstead Manual Finger Tapping test is a common tool for this assessment.
- Understanding test-retest reliability and performance changes is important for its application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Halstead Manual Finger Tapping test.
- To investigate potential effects of practice and fatigue on performance.
- To examine differences in performance and reliability between sexes and hands.
Main Methods:
- 18 healthy, right-handed adults (9 men, 9 women) participated.
- The Halstead Manual Finger Tapping test was administered over 10 consecutive weeks.
- 10 trials were conducted per hand in each session.
Main Results:
- High test-retest reliability was observed, averaging .94 for men and .86 for women.
- No significant fatigue effects were found across trials.
- Significant performance increases over trials were noted for men in both hands.
Conclusions:
- The Halstead Manual Finger Tapping test demonstrates excellent reliability for assessing manual dexterity.
- Performance can improve with practice over time, particularly in males.
- The test is a robust measure for evaluating motor skills without significant fatigue concerns.