Performance of Uni- and Bi-lateral Motor Coordination in Adults

Three motor coordination tests(finger sequencing, FS; diadochokinesis, DK; heel toe tapping, HTT), which are clinically used in oder to elicit soft neurological signs (SNS) were administered to 58 normal, right-handed students (age range: 18 to 22 years). Each test contained uni-lateral and bi-lateral movements. Furthermore, the uni-lateral movement was consisted of right and left conditions, and the bi-lateral movement was consisted of mirrorwise and nonmirrorwise conditions. The performance of these movements was assessed by two types of technique; one was the measuring the time required and the other was the scoring of the degree of accuracy, rhythm and the magnitude of associated movements from videotapes. The correlation analysis found relatively weak relationship between the results of these two types of assessments, which suggests that both types of assessments should be used crinically. The results of ANOVA were as follows. (1) On the uni-lateral movements, in all tests, no significant sex differences were found in time measuring as well as in the scoring. The significant right-left difference (right-side dominance) appeared in the DK only when assessed by time measuring. (2) On the bi-lateral movements, in every test, there found to be the significant differences between two conditions (nonmirrorwise<mirrorwise) on both assessments. This findings were interpreted as the nonmirrorwise movements being controlled by the higher leveled neural system than the mirrorwise movements. In addition, the time measuring revealed significant sex difference (females