Alternate finger tapping test in patients with migraine
Corresponding Author
P. Scherer
Department of Neurology, Benjamin Franklin University Clinic, Free University Berlin, Eschenallee 3, D-14050 Berlin, Germany *
Dr P. Scherer, Oberarzt der Neurologtschen Abteilung, Krankenhaus Hennigsdorf, Marwitzer Str. 91, D-16761 Hennigsdorf, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorH. Bauer
Department of Neurology, Benjamin Franklin University Clinic, Free University Berlin, Eschenallee 3, D-14050 Berlin, Germany *
Search for more papers by this authorK. Baum
Department of Neurology, Benjamin Franklin University Clinic, Free University Berlin, Eschenallee 3, D-14050 Berlin, Germany *
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
P. Scherer
Department of Neurology, Benjamin Franklin University Clinic, Free University Berlin, Eschenallee 3, D-14050 Berlin, Germany *
Dr P. Scherer, Oberarzt der Neurologtschen Abteilung, Krankenhaus Hennigsdorf, Marwitzer Str. 91, D-16761 Hennigsdorf, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorH. Bauer
Department of Neurology, Benjamin Franklin University Clinic, Free University Berlin, Eschenallee 3, D-14050 Berlin, Germany *
Search for more papers by this authorK. Baum
Department of Neurology, Benjamin Franklin University Clinic, Free University Berlin, Eschenallee 3, D-14050 Berlin, Germany *
Search for more papers by this authorResearch Group: “Cognitive dysfunctions in subcortical brain disorders (Scherer P, MD; Baum K, MD; Bauer H, clinical psychologist)”.
Abstract
Migraine patients are thought to show some cognitive dysfunction and slight structural abnormalities in the white matter of the brain, whereas most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are known to have numerous white matter lesions, often affecting the corpus callosum. To demonstrate psychomotor dysfunction, an alternate finger tapping task (a-FTT) on a PC was administered to controls (n= 41), migraine patients (n= 25), and multiple sclerosis patients (n = 22). Five MS patients with secondary callosal atrophy detected by MRI were also investigated as a separate group. Significant slowing was demonstrated in migraine (P= 0.0005) and MS (P<0.0001). The poorest test results were found in patients with callosal atrophy. In summary, a-FTT on a PC is able to detect minimal psychomotor dysfunction in migraine.
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