An examination of factors that may contribute to gender differences in psychomotor processing speed

Background For unknown reasons, females outperform males on tests of psychomotor processing speed (PS), such as the Coding and Symbol Search subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Method In the present study, the effects of intelligence, memory, personality, fine motor speed, gross motor dexterity, height, weight, age, sex, and education on psychomotor processing speed were studied in an outpatient sample (n = 130). Results Moderate (r > .40) correlations were found between PS and verbal reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, verbal memory, and fine motor speed. Weak (r > .20) correlations were found between PS and gross motor dexterity, extraversion, education, weight, and sex. Females outperformed males in PS and in fine motor speed. Stepwise linear regression analysis indicated nonverbal reasoning, fine motor speed, and sex as independent predictors of PS. Conclusions One interpretation of the results is that the factors underlying sex differences in processing speed are not psychological but neurological or physiological in nature and therefore a wider variety of measures from these disciplines are needed for further studies. For clinical assessment purposes, psychological tests should preferably provide different norms for male and female PS scores.

Bilaterally Reduced Rolandic Beta Band Activity in Minor Stroke Patients

Objective: Stroke patients with hemiparesis display decreased beta band (13-25 Hz) rolandic activity, correlating to impaired motor function. However, patients without significant weakness, with small lesions far from sensorimotor cortex, nevertheless exhibit bilateral decreased motor dexterity and slowed reaction times. We investigate whether these minor stroke patients also display abnormal beta band activity. Methods: Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data were collected from nine minor stroke patients (NIHSS < 4) without significant hemiparesis, at ~1 and ~6 months postinfarct, and eight age-similar controls. Rolandic relative beta power during matching tasks and resting state, and Beta Event Related (De)Synchronization (ERD/ERS) during button press responses were analyzed. Results: Regardless of lesion location, patients had significantly reduced relative beta power and ERS compared to controls. Abnormalities persisted over visits, and were present in both ipsi- and contra-lesional hemispheres, consistent with bilateral impairments in motor dexterity and speed. Conclusions: Minor stroke patients without severe weakness display reduced rolandic beta band activity in both hemispheres, which may be linked to bilaterally impaired dexterity and processing speed, implicating global connectivity dysfunction affecting sensorimotor cortex. Significance: Rolandic beta band activity may be a potential biomarker and treatment target, even for minor stroke patients with small lesions far from sensorimotor areas.

Routine Cancer Treatment Regimens and Its Impact on Fine Motor Dexterity in Breast Cancer

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Breast cancer can be a major challenge for those affected. Knowledge of changes in fine motor dexterity in affected women due to routine cancer therapies can help guide effective support. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> For this prospective observational study, we collected data of 79 women with a mean age 54.6 ± 9.5 years prior to, after breast cancer therapy (T1), and at 3-month follow-up. The fine motor dexterity was assessed for 4 treatment subgroups: SC = Surgery + Chemotherapy, SCR = Surgery + Chemotherapy + Radiotherapy Therapy, SR = Surgery + Radiotherapy, and S = Surgery. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Over time, women with breast cancer showed significant decreases in fine motor dexterity across all treatment groups (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). The strongest negative effect was seen in the treatment groups receiving additional chemotherapy. SCR group showed pronounced limitations for dominant hand (DH) −12%; non-dominant hand (NDH) −15%; both hands (BH) −17%; assembly (ASSY) −11% at T1. Significant interaction was noticeable in DH (<i>F</i> = 5.59, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), NDH (<i>F</i> = 6.61, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), BH (<i>F</i> = 13.11 <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), and ASSY (<i>F</i> = 5.84 <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Our study showed that the extent of change in fine motor dexterity depends on the treatment regimen. The detection of unmet care needs could help to personalize and optimize clinical and survivorship care. Based on our findings, multidisciplinary support initiated early in breast cancer therapy is required.

Performance of Bimanual Finger Coordination Tasks in Speakers Who Stutter

Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental speech disorder characterized by the symptoms of speech repetition, prolongation, and blocking. Stuttering-related dysfluency can be transiently alleviated by providing an external timing signal such as a metronome or the voice of another person. Therefore, the existence of a core motor timing deficit in stuttering has been speculated. If this is the case, then motoric behaviors other than speech should be disrupted in stuttering. This study examined motoric performance on four complex bimanual tasks in 37 adults who stutter and 31 fluent controls. Two tasks utilized bimanual rotation to examine motor dexterity, and two tasks used the bimanual mirror and parallel tapping movements to examine timing control ability. Video-based analyses were conducted to determine performance accuracy and speed. The results showed that individuals who stutter performed worse than fluent speakers on tapping tasks but not on bimanual rotation tasks. These results suggest stuttering is associated with timing control for general motor behavior.

A-170 Socioeconomic Status as a Predictor of Fine Motor and Graphomotor Outcomes in Patients with Pediatric Brain Tumor

Objective As the field of neuropsychology strives to provide equitable care among diverse and disadvantaged populations, disparities in treatment and long-term outcomes continue to disproportionately impact individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES). Motor deficits are common following pediatric brain tumor (PBT) diagnoses. However, while the relationship between SES and cognitive outcomes in this population is well documented, the role of SES in predicting more basic motor outcomes is not yet understood. This retrospective cross-sectional study was designed to determine the impact of SES on fine motor and graphomotor outcomes in PBT patients to ensure appropriate interventions and accommodations for those at higher risk. Method 225 patients with PBT (52.9% male; $ \overset{-}{\textrm{x}} $ age = 12 yrs; SD = 5.3 yrs) underwent neuropsychological evaluation, including assessment of graphomotor speed/coordination, visual-motor integration, and fine motor dexterity. Estimated median household income was used as a proxy for SES ($ \overset{-}{\textrm{x}} $=$71,543; SD = $23,480). Linear regression analyses were used to explore the role of SES in predicting motor outcomes. Results Lower SES predicted poorer graphomotor speed, F(1,96) = 5.205, p = 0.013, graphomotor coordination, F(1,60) = 3.890, p = 0.027, visual-motor integration, F(1,88) = 8.116, p = 0.003, and fine motor dexterity, F(1,166) = 3.755, p = 0.027. All analyses were significant even after implementing false discovery rates. Conclusions Consistent with lower SES predicting poorer cognitive late effects, SES also plays a role in motor-related outcomes of PBT. Unfortunately, lower SES is also associated with barriers in accessing formal evaluations and services required to mitigate such deficits. Therefore, patients with lower SES should be considered higher risk and receive interventions and accommodations even in the absence of formal assessment to prevent delays in care.

Changes in Sensorimotor Cortical Activation in Children Using Prostheses and Prosthetic Simulators

This study aimed to examine the neural responses of children using prostheses and prosthetic simulators to better elucidate the emulation abilities of the simulators. We utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to evaluate the neural response in five children with a congenital upper limb reduction (ULR) using a body-powered prosthesis to complete a 60 s gross motor dexterity task. The ULR group was matched with five typically developing children (TD) using their non-preferred hand and a prosthetic simulator on the same hand. The ULR group had lower activation within the primary motor cortex (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA) compared to the TD group, but nonsignificant differences in the primary somatosensory area (S1). Compared to using their non-preferred hand, the TD group exhibited significantly higher action in S1 when using the simulator, but nonsignificant differences in M1 and SMA. The non-significant differences in S1 activation between groups and the increased activation evoked by the simulator’s use may suggest rapid changes in feedback prioritization during tool use. We suggest that prosthetic simulators may elicit increased reliance on proprioceptive and tactile feedback during motor tasks. This knowledge may help to develop future prosthesis rehabilitative training or the improvement of tool-based skills.

Adaptive brain activity changes during tongue movement with palatal coverage from fMRI data

Successful adaptation to wearing dentures with palatal coverage may be associated with cortical activity changes related to tongue motor control. The purpose was to investigate the brain activity changes during tongue movement in response to a new oral environment. Twenty-eight fully dentate subjects (mean age: 28.6-years-old) who had no experience with removable dentures wore experimental palatal plates for 7 days. We measured tongue motor dexterity, difficulty with tongue movement, and brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging during tongue movement at pre-insertion (Day 0), as well as immediately (Day 1), 3 days (Day 3), and 7 days (Day 7) post-insertion. Difficulty with tongue movement was significantly higher on Day 1 than on Days 0, 3, and 7. In the subtraction analysis of brain activity across each day, activations in the angular gyrus and right precuneus on Day 1 were significantly higher than on Day 7. Tongue motor impairment induced activation of the angular gyrus, which was associated with monitoring of the tongue’s spatial information, as well as the activation of the precuneus, which was associated with constructing the tongue motor imagery. As the tongue regained the smoothness in its motor functions, the activation of the angular gyrus and precuneus decreased.

Reversed Polarity bi-tDCS over M1 during a Five Days Motor Task Training Did Not Influenced Motor Learning. A Triple-Blind Clinical Trial

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been investigated as a way of improving motor learning. Our purpose was to explore the reversal bilateral tDCS effects on manual dexterity training, during five days, with the retention component measured after 5 days to determine whether somatosensory effects were produced. In this randomized, triple-blind clinical trial, 28 healthy subjects (14 women) were recruited and randomized into tDCS and placebo groups, although only 23 participants (13 women) finished the complete protocol. Participants received the real or placebo treatment during five consecutive days, while performing a motor dexterity training program of 20 min. The motor dexterity and the sensitivity of the hand were assessed pre- and post-day 1, post 5 days of training, and 5 days after training concluded. Training improved motor dexterity, but tDCS only produced a tendency to improve retention. The intervention did not produce changes in the somatosensory variables assessed. Thus, reversal bi-tDCS had no effects during motor learning on healthy subjects, but it could favor the retention of the motor skills acquired. These results do not support the cooperative inter-hemispheric model.

Effectiveness of hand splints on upper limb skills and functional activities in children with cerebral palsy: a review

Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder in which children may experience similar physical limitations, including those related to upper limb skills that affect the child's ability to participate in age-specific activities. The use of hand-splints in children with neurological conditions is little reported, they continue to be widely used to improve upper limb skills and functional activities. This review was done to investigate the use and effects of hand splints in Cerebral Palsy patient as orthotic treatment found to be very positive result in correcting and maintaining the achieved results. Electronic database search was conducted using Google scholar, Science direct, Pub Med, Cochrane Library and reference lists from all retrieved articles. Common problems in upper limb due to CP are flexion contractures of the fingers and wrist due to spasticity, pronation deformity of the forearm, thumb-in-palm deformity and hand-related disabilities, all lead to decrease in grip and muscle strength. Hand splints are often used to help a weak or ineffective joint or muscle to enhance a person's arm or hand posture, mobility, quality of motion, and function. The findings suggest that children with CP experience increased grip strength and fine motor dexterity when using different hand splints. This review summarizes the present state of understanding the extent to which orthotic management in CP can improve in the patient’s skills and functional activities by improving the muscle strength and hand function, also offers clinical suggestions for prescribing orthosis in order to optimize efficacy.

Computerized Symbol Digit Modalities Test in a Swiss Pediatric Cohort – Part 2: Clinical Implementation

BackgroundInformation processing speed (IPS) is a marker for cognitive function. It is associated with neural maturation and increases during development. Traditionally, IPS is measured using paper and pencil tasks requiring fine motor skills. Such skills are often impaired in patients with neurological conditions. Therefore, an alternative that does not need motor dexterity is desirable. One option is the computerized symbol digit modalities test (c-SDMT), which requires the patient to verbally associate numbers with symbols.MethodsEighty-six participants (8–16 years old; 45 male; 48 inpatients) were examined, 38 healthy and 48 hospitalized for a non-neurological disease. All participants performed the written SDMT, c-SDMT, and the Test of Non-verbal Intelligence Fourth Edition (TONI-4). Statistical analyses included a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) for the effects of intelligence (IQ) and hospitalization on the performance of the SDMT and c-SDMT. A repeated measures analysis of variance (repeated measures ANOVA) was used to compare performance across c-SDMT trials between inpatients and outpatients.ResultsThe MANCOVA showed that hospitalization had a significant effect on IPS when measured with the SDMT (p = 0.04) but not with the c-SDMT (p = 0.68), while IQ (p = 0.92) had no effect on IPS. Age (p &lt; 0.001) was the best predictor of performance of both tests. The repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference in within-test performance (p = 0.06) between outpatient and inpatient participants in the c-SDMT.ConclusionPerformance of the c-SDMT is not confounded by hospitalization and gives within-test information. As a valid and reliable measure of IPS for children and adolescents, it is suitable for use in both inpatient and outpatient populations.