fingertappingtest

The finger tapping test is a brief neuropsychological and neuromotor assessment that measures motor speed and fine motor control. It is commonly used to detect lateralized motor impairment, monitor disease progression, and evaluate the effects of medication or rehabilitation. The task typically requires an examinee to tap a key, lever, or touchscreen with the index finger as rapidly as possible for a fixed interval (commonly 10 seconds), with multiple trials for each hand. Scores include total taps, mean taps per trial, and measures of variability or rhythm.

Originating in clinical neuropsychology and incorporated into standardized batteries, the test has both mechanical and electronic variants; computerized versions record precise timing between taps and can provide richer metrics. Clinical applications include evaluation in Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and peripheral neuropathies, as well as use in research on aging and developmental disorders.

Interpretation relies on normative data adjusted for age, sex, and hand dominance. Strengths of the test are its brevity, low cost, and sensitivity to motor slowing. Limitations include susceptibility to non-neurological influences (e.g., arthritis, lack of effort, medication side effects) and practice effects across repeated administrations. As with other screening tools, results are most informative when considered alongside clinical examination and complementary assessments.