Kinematic recordings while performing a modified version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test: Age, sex, and education effects

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study attempts to demonstrate that kinematic recordings of finger movements help explain the well-known effects of age, education, and sex on the Halstead Finger Tapping Test (HFTT). Method: High-speed kinematic recordings were obtained on 107 healthy adults (ages 21 to 80 years) while they performed a modified version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test (HFTT). The number of “valid” taps and “invalid” taps (i.e., lever movements that did not produce an increase in the mechanical number count), tapping speed variability, “learning” and “fatigue” effects was obtained. Results: Previous age, education, and sex effects were replicated. Males had faster start and stop times when finger tapping and these measures correlated with the number of valid taps per 10 s. Educational level correlated with start times, not stop times. Age correlated only with the number of valid taps. Variability of tapping movements correlated with the number of invalid taps, but not valid taps. Females had more invalid taps than males. Fatigue and learning effects were independent of the person’s age, education, and sex. Conclusion: Kinematic recordings of finger tapping help explain the well-known age, education, and sex effects on finger tapping speeds. A modified method of administrating the HFTT is also introduced to assess fatigue and learning effects while performing this task.

KEYWORDS:

• Kinematic recordings
• Halstead Finger Tapping Test
• age
• sex
• education

Acknowledgments

Time to help prepare this manuscript was made possible via the Barrow UK Newsome Chair awarded to the first author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

No grant funding was obtained to conduct this study. Support was solely from SARAH Network Rehabilitation Hospital, Brasilia, Brazil.