Studying cognitive-motor interactions using a tablet-based application of the Color Trails Test.

Abstract

The Color Trails Test (CTT) is a pen and paper (P&P) test designed to measure cognitive function. The test consists of two parts that evaluate primarily sustained visual attention (Trails A) and divided attention (Trails B). Based on clinical interest in converting neuropsychological testing from P&P to computerized testing, we developed a digital version of the CTT ('Tablet-CTT'). Twenty-four young, healthy participants performed Trails A and B of both the original P&P and the Tablet-CTT. Hand kinematics were calculated using the continuous location of an electronic pen on the tablet touch screen. To compare motor control aspects, we differentiated for each test session the 'movement planning' and 'movement execution' times (accumulated across all single target-to-target trajectories). Concurrent validity was demonstrated by the high correlation between completion times of the P&P and Tablet-CTT, in both Trails A (r = 0.6; p < 0.005) and Trails B (r = 0.8; p < 0.001). Trails B yielded significantly longer completion times in both formats (p < 0.001). Examining hand kinematics in Tablet-CTT revealed that the difference in durations was mostly due to prolonged planning time, but also due to significantly lower execution velocity in Trails B (p < 0.001). Lastly, we found increased hand velocity during the planning phase in Trails B compared to Trails A (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates how transforming the CTT to a digital platform could be useful for studying cognitive-motor interactions in healthy individuals. Moreover, it could potentially serve as a diagnosis tool by introducing a more comprehensive testing method that incorporates online recordings of hand movements.