Performance of fine motor coordination activities with an hypnotically anesthetized limb.

Abstract

Abstract experiments were conducted to determine the effects of induced hypnotic anesthesia in S's dominant arm upon the performance of various motor coordination tasks. Experiment 1 assessed the ability of Ss to tap a pencil within a 20 mm diameter circle while the limb performing the task was or was not anesthetized. Experiment 2 determined the effect of hypnotic anesthesia upon the ability to perform a hand-turn task. Experiment 3 considered the effects of hypnotic anesthesia on the ability to draw and duplicate a sine-wave pattern. In all 3 experiments, hypnotic anesthesia adversely affected task performance. The results were interpreted as indicating a possible relationship between induced hypnotic anesthesia and mimicked cerebellar dysfunction.