A four-finger tapping sensor and associated software have been developed for the investigation of timing and rhythm performance and mechanisms in normal subjects and their disruption in neurological disorders. The tapping sensor comprises four electronic touch pads and pacing lights. A personal computer (PC) is used to control visual and auditory pacing, record the time and pad of each tap, and...

The Edwards hypothesis of ergodicity of blocked configurations for gently tapped granular materials is tested for abstract models of spin systems on random graphs and spin chains with kinetic constraints. The tapping dynamics is modeled by considering two distinct mechanisms of energy injection: thermal and random tapping. We find that ergodicity depends upon the tapping procedure (i.e. the way...

We propose a novel simple method for quantitative and qualitative finger-tapping assessment based on miniature inertial sensors (3D gyroscopes) placed on the thumb and index-finger. We propose a simplified description of the finger tapping by using a single angle, describing rotation around a dominant axis. The method was verified on twelve subjects, who performed various tapping tasks, mimicki...

The present study examined whether the elderly produced a hastened or delayed tap with a negative or positive constant intertap interval error more frequently in self-paced tapping than in the stimulus-synchronized tapping for the 2 N target force at 2 or 4 Hz frequency. The analysis showed that, at both frequencies, the percentage of the delayed tap was larger in the self-paced tapping than in...

The present study was performed on rats with experimental mononeuropathy induced by left common sciatic nerve loose ligation. Unilateral sciatic nerve loose ligation induced decreases of the hindpaw withdrawal latency to the hot-plate test, cold-plate test and the Randall Selitto test. Sciatic nerve loose ligation induced hyperesponsiveness to touch at room temperature also. Intrathecal adminis...