Manipulandum

Dextrain manipulandum:

Force sensors are incorporated in an ergonomically designed tool allowing precision measurement of finger movements. The tool is coupled with games allowing precision evaluation of key components of manual dexterity. This approach allows measurement of multiple neurological hand motor impairments and provides patient-specific profiles of impairment.

 The key sensorimotor components of manual dexterity are tested in five tasks:

 1) Force control task. This visuomotor task tests ability to generate and control finger forces accurately and with correct timing and indicates sensorimotor integration and visuospatial attention capacities.

2) Maximal finger tapping. This task tests maximal tapping speed and indicates maximal motor output.

3) Rhythm tapping. This audiomotor task tests ability to perform finger tapping at set frequencies with and without feedback indicating movement timing and working memory capacities.

4) Sequence finger tapping. This task tests ability to learn and memorize a finger tapping sequence indicating learning and short-term memory capacity.

5) Multi-finger tapping. This task tests ability to perform individuated finger taps in response to visual cues and indicates individuated finger movement and motor inhibition capacities.