A novel clinical test of recognition reaction time in healthy adults.

Abstract

We evaluated a clinical “go/no-go” reaction time test (recognition RTclin) that is portable and does not require a computer, and used it to quantify the effect of age on recognition RTclin test scores. Fifty-two healthy adults aged 19 – 83 years completed simple and recognition RTclin testing. Simple RTclin was measured as the elapsed time from initial release of a suspended vertical shaft by the examiner until its arrest by participant pinch grip. Recognition RTclin was similar except that a light on the apparatus randomly illuminated in 50% of the trials to signal the participant to arrest the device. To help interpret the RTclin results we partitioned them into pre-movement time (PMT) and movement time (MT) using an optoelectronic camera system that is not ordinarily part of the RTclin test. Recognition RTclin scores were significantly slower than simple RTclin scores, with 71% of the prolongation attributable to PMT. While simple RTclin test scores correlated with age, recognition RTclin scores did not. A strong negative association between recognition RTclin accuracy and age was found. Recognition RTclin is feasible to measure in healthy adults and appears to represent a portable, computer-independent measure of cognitive processing speed and inhibitory capacity. Potential applications include assessment of brain injury, dementing illness, medication side-effects, fall risk, and driving safety.

Complex and Simple Clinical Reaction Times Are Associated with Gait, Balance, and Major Fall Injury in Older Subjects with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

“…These findings support at least three novel, clinically relevant concepts: 1) When the data reported here are considered with prior work 27 RT clin appears to be an innovative, clinically accessible method for measuring inhibitory executive function over a brief time interval; 2) The data link RT clin based Short Latency Neurocognitive Attributes to UST and frontal plane responses to sequential perturbations during walking, and in so doing provide a mechanism by which poor inhibitory executive function increases fall risk; and 3) The relationships between Complex RT clin Accuracy:Simple RT clin Latency and measures of balance, frontal plane gait control, and major injuries were identified predominantly in the subjects with DPN suggesting that short latency neurocognitive capability is of greater importance in the setting of lower limb neuromuscular impairment. These points are addressed in sequence below.…”

“…26 Complex RT clin Accuracy requires the subject to catch the same device solely on the randomly-determined 50% of trials in which lights affixed to it illuminate. 27 Simple RT clin Latency is measured in ms, and Complex RT clin Accuracy is measured as the percentage of trials in which the subject responds correctly. Simple RT clin Latency requires sustained attention and rapid reaction.…”

Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2012

“…Although it is noted that this time frame is an arbitrary one, the expert panel agreed nevertheless that a period of rest was important prior to assessment. Future research should consider the efficacy for inclusion of vision tests such as the King Devick Test and clinical reaction time tests 155 156. Recent studies suggest that these may be useful additions to the sideline assessment of concussion.…”

Do Neurocognitive SCAT3 Baseline Test Scores Differ Between Footballers (Soccer) Living With and Without Disability? A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Future concussion consensus group research recommendations have suggested the looking at efficacy for inclusion of vision tests such as King-Devick and clinical reaction time tests, which will have limitations for many athletes with disability including those with visual impairment 8,40,41 or neuromuscular impairment, such as cerebral palsy. Furthermore, learning disability often goes unrecognized in sporting environments.…”