Finger tapping: Why can't we alternate hands?

Kari Eng, Summer Rolin, Rachel Fazio, Christine Biddle, Megan O'Grady, Robert Denney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine if there is any need, as per the Halstead- Reitan instructions, to test each hand uninterruptedly on the Finger Oscillation Test (FoT). To the authors' knowledge, there is no widely available research addressing this issue. Enabling administration of the FoT using alternate hands would theoretically make the administration of the assessment more efficient. In this study, participants consisted of 49 graduate students. All were administered the FoT with standard instructions and using an alternating-hands method. The order of administration was counterbalanced to avoid practice effects, and subjects completed distractor tasks between administrations. Results indicated there was a difference between the two administration methods for both dominant, t(47)=-4.09, p<.001, and nondominant, t(48)=-4.17, p<.001, hands. Surprisingly, mean T-scores were significantly higher for both the dominant and nondominant hands in the alternative administration group when compared with the standard method score (50 vs. 44 and 51 vs. 44, respectively). The standard deviations for both hands were also lower using the alternative method. This study highlights the need for neuropsychologists to be aware of the established administration protocols for tests and to carefully consider how deviations from these methods could affect test scores.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-191
Number of pages5
JournalApplied Neuropsychology
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Clinical
  • Neuropsychology
  • Symptom validity testing
  • Tests<neuropsychology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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