Tests Of Motor Speed Research Articles

Optimization of Computer Communication Monitoring System for Wind Turbine Speed

This article first studies the operating principles of wind turbines, focusing on the analysis of the structure and working principles of permanent magnet direct-drive wind turbines. According to the actual needs of the wind power system, the monitoring objects of the monitoring system are determined, and the overall monitoring plan for wind power generation is proposed to realize real-time analysis of the operating characteristics of the wind power system. At the same time, it pointed out the great significance of the wind power generation simulation experiment system and focused on the wind speed modeling. In terms of hardware research and analysis, relevant sensors, high-speed data acquisition cards, etc., were selected, and relevant signal conditioning circuits were designed, and a permanent magnet direct-drive wind power generation system simulation monitoring platform was constructed. In terms of software, LabVIEW was chosen as the design language of the monitoring system, and it pointed out the advantages of using LabVIEW in this monitoring system. Finally, the system uses the laboratory permanent magnet direct-drive wind turbine as the monitoring object. The practicality and accuracy of the system are verified through experiments such as permanent magnet motor power test, motor speed test, database system test, and remote monitoring test. The experimental results show that the monitoring system has a friendly interface and perfect functions and has important practicability and reference in the field of wind power monitoring.

Fractional Anisotropy in Selected, Motor-Related White Matter Tracts and Its Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations With Motor Function in Healthy Older Adults.

BackgroundWhile it is well-known that deficits in motor performance and brain structural connectivity occur in the course of healthy aging, it is still unclear if and how these changes are related to each other. While some cross-sectional studies suggest that white matter (WM) microstructure is positively associated with motor function in healthy older adults, more evidence is needed. Moreover, longitudinal data is required to estimate whether similar associations can be found between trajectories of change in WM microstructure and motor function. The current study addresses this gap by investigating age-associations and longitudinal changes in WM microstructure and motor function, and the cross-sectional (level-level) and longitudinal (level-change, change-change) association between these two domains.MethodWe used multiple-occasion data (covering 4 years) from a large sample (N = 231) of healthy older adults from the Longitudinal Healthy Aging Brain (LHAB) database. To measure WM microstructure, we used diffusion-weighted imaging data to compute mean FA in three selected WM tracts [forceps minor (FMIN); superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF); corticospinal tract (CST)]. Motor function was measured via two motor speed tests (grooved pegboard, finger tapping) and one motor strength test (grip force test), separately for the left and the right hand. The statistical analysis was conducted with longitudinal growth curve models in the structural equation modeling framework.ResultsThe results revealed longitudinal decline and negative cross-sectional age-associations for mean WM FA in the FMIN and SLF, and for motor function in all tests, with a higher vulnerability for left than right hand motor performance. Regarding cross-domain associations, we found a significant positive level-level correlation among mean WM FA in the FMIN with motor speed. Mean FA in SLF and CST was not correlated with motor performance measures, and none of the level-change or change-change associations were significant. Overall, our results (a) provide important insights into aging-related changes of fine motor abilities and FA in selected white matter tracts associated with motor control, (b) support previous cross-sectional work showing that neural control of movement in older adults also involves brain structures outside the core motor system and (c) align with the idea that, in healthy aging, compensatory mechanisms may be in place and longer time delays may be needed to reveal level-change or change-change associations.

EEG based dementia diagnosis using multi-class support vector machine with motor speed cognitive test

Dementia is the most burdensome disorder in elders. The Dementia diagnosis is the challenging task at the earliest stages of a neurodegenerative disease when cognitive decline does not interfere with daily life activities. This work focuses on the detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by classifying dementia, MCI and age-matched normal subjects. The classification is based on a different set of EEG features. The multi-class support vector machine (SVM) used to classify EEG features during resting-state, relaxing-state, and motor speed test (MST) events. This work investigated the efficient set of EEG features to calculate maximum classification accuracy for each cognitive event. The motor speed of subjects evaluated and correlated the difference between the dominant and non-dominant hand reactivity with ageing in MST event. The proposed work achieved the highest overall accuracy of 87.59% of MST event after 85.09% in relaxing-state and 80.10% in resting-state. The diagnostic accuracy of MCI group achieved 87.22% in resting-state, 89.72% in relaxing state, and 91.23% in MST. Similarly, dementia achieved 88.72% accuracy in the resting state, 90.23% in relaxing state, and 92.36% in MST event. The normal group achieved 94.66% accuracy in the resting state, 90.23% in relaxing state, and 91.60% in MST event. These findings are comparatively higher than the latest research in this area, and MST findings are novel using multi-class SVM. Thus, MST is the most reliable tool for dementia diagnosis in the clinical setting.

The influence of muscle soreness on the speed of performing a motor reaction speed task in football goalkeepers during a training camp

Aim: To investigate the influence of muscle soreness on the speed of performing a motor reaction speed task in football goalkeepers. Methods: Twenty-four young healthy football goalkeepers, aged 1618 years old (average 16.7 ±0.67 year), with an average body height of 175.6 ±5.4 cm and body weight of 65 ±5 kg, participated in a study conducted during a 6-day training camp. The first day, referred to as day 0, was intended for initial tests and the following 5 days, referred to as days 15, consisted of training. On day 0, before the training period, anthropometric parameters such as weight and height were measured, subjects were questioned to determine the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and perceived psychophysical readiness (PPR), a speed test with motor reaction choice (ST) was performed using a Smart Speed System and areas with muscle soreness (MS) were recorded by means of a computer tablet with the Navigate Pain application. The goalkeepers participated in two training sessions on each of the following 5 days. Before each training session, the same speed test was performed. Lap times for 5 m and 15 m were recorded. After the second training session each day, the participants drew digital pain maps using a computer tablet, marking separate areas of the body where they felt muscle soreness. These data were consolidated and the total area was analyzed to investigate if, throughout the training, there were any changes to the size of the area that was indicated as having MS. A categorization of body areas was also made to determine areas where muscle soreness was most frequently indicated. Each training session was monitored with heart rate (HR) registration and each goalkeeper determined his fatigue (RPE) and readiness to exercise (PPR) on a 110-point scale. Results: Twenty-three out of twenty-four (98.5%) goalkeepers indicated that they had MS during the study. Day 2 showed the highest incidence rate with 21 participants indicating that they felt MS. The biggest area of MS was also indicated on day 2, yet statistical analysis did not show significant differences in the area of MS between the training days. MS was most often indicated in the upper leg, i.e. the thighs. The average time of the first 5 m was 1.3 [s] (SD = 0.09), ranging from 1.28 [s] to 1.33 [s], while the average time of the following 10 m was 2.07 [s] (SD = 0.18), ranging from 2.04 to 2.1 [s]. The average total speed test time equaled 3.37 [s] (SD = 0.21), ranging from 3.33 to 3.38. Statistical analysis did not show significant differences in any of the results between the training days. Conclusions: Most of the goalkeepers felt muscle soreness as an effect of specific goalkeeper training, measured by indicating painful zones on digital pain drawings. In this study, where muscle soreness was induced by technical-tactical specific goalkeeper training, no significant changes were noticed in the speed of performing a motor speed test with reaction choice or on the area of muscle soreness indicated on digital pain drawings, although almost every goalkeeper had a large area of muscle soreness. Discussion: Many studies show that delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) causes a decrease in strength, power, range of motion and speed. However, in many cases, these studies are designed to induce high intensity DOMS and then conduct isolated motor skill tests. In this study the objective was not to induce high intensity DOMS but to investigate the effect of muscle pain, which is present naturally during training processes, and then assess its effect on a speed test which reflects real game situations – with a component of reaction choice and change of movement and direction. Approaching the subject from a different viewpoint allows us to see that the reliable assessment of the psychophysical state of players, made by observing their actions on the pitch or even using photocells to measure motion speed, is difficult without an insight into the parameters of soreness that players experience. These can be monitored, for example, through digital pain mapping software.

Rancang Bangun Prototype Mesin Pemotong Rumput Kendali Jarak Jauh Menggunakan Aplikasi Android

ABSTRACTThis research develops a prototype of a remotely controlled lawn mower using Android smartphone with Bluetooth connection to avoid the risk of accidents. The lawn mower is controlled by an Android application developed with Mit App Inventor using HC-05 Bluetooth module connection. This prototype uses a DC motor as a driving motor to rotate the blade with an LM393 speed sensor using Arduino Uno microcontroller. The developed system is equipped with an option of grass height that can be adjusted. The test of HC-05 Bluetooth module resulted the maximum acceptable connection distance in the open space is 80 m and the maximum connection distance with a barrier is 10.45 m. DC motor speed tests are carried out on the lawn mowers at no load and loaded conditions. The results showed a slight decrease in motor speed at the grass height of 6 cm and 4 cm, but at 2 cm height the rotation dropped significantly.Keywords: lawn mower, remote control, Arduino Uno, Bluetooth, Android

The acute effect of breakfast cereal consumption on inhibitory cognitive control in competitive male collegiate athlete’s with habitual breakfast skipping

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of breakfast cereal consumption on inhibitory cognitive control in competitive male collegiate athletes with habitual breakfast skipping. Method: The study was performed in a randomized crossover design with trials scheduled 7 days apart. Forty competitive male collegiate athletes (age = 21:3 years; BMI = 19.7 kg/m2) with habitual breakfast skipping were given a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal or no breakfast cereal in two experimental and control conditions. The breakfast included high glycemic index ready-to-eat breakfast (cereals and 125 ml skim milk: 200 kcal, 36 g CHO, 5 g protein, 1.5 g fat, 1 g fiber, 22 g sugars). The Stroop Interference Test was used to measure inhibitory cognitive control. Paired t-test and independent t-test were used to analyze the data at significant level of p ≤ 0.05. Results: The results suggested that reading interference tendency and naming interference tendency as an indicator of sensory motor speed test were improved significantly after breakfast consumption (p ≤ 0.05), while no significant change was found in the control condition (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: Breakfast consumption has a positive key role in cognitive performance for inhibitory control.

The control of the movement of intelligent car based on self-adaptive non-linear algorithm

In order to improve the movement performance of the intelligent car, this thesis design a system of movement control based on self-adaptive non-linear algorithm. This system consists of hardware system and software system. The hardware system consists of elastic suspension and servomechanisms, and the software system is mainly based on self-adaptive control algorithm of the servo drive to realize the motion control of the robot by software programming. In order to test the reliability and the stability of the system motion control, the author respectively carried out the MATLAB simulation experiment and the motor speed test experiment on the system. The experimental results show that the system is highly reliable and stable, and can be widely used as a research and development platform.

Study on upper limb rehabilitation system based on surface EMG.

During the rehabilitation process, it is essential to accurately judge a patient's recovery in a timely manner. A reasonable and matched training program is significant in the development of rehabilitation system. This paper presents a new upper limb rehabilitation training system, which consists of an upper limb rehabilitation training device, a current detection circuit, a motor speed test circuit, a surface EMG (sEMG) sensor, and a dSPACE HIL simulation platform. The real-time output torque of the servo motor is calculated by using the motor's real-time current and speed, in order to monitor the patient's training situation. The signal of sEMG is collected in real time and is processed with root mean square (RMS) to characterize the degree of muscle activation. Based on this rehabilitation system, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) experiments, passive training experiments under different speeds, and active training experiments under different damping are studied. The results show that this new system performs real-time and accurate monitoring of a patient's training situation. It can also assess a patient's recovery through muscle activation. To a certain extent, this system provides a platform for research and development of rehabilitation medical engineering.

Neuropsychological Profile, Quality of Life and Associated Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Essential Tremor

Essential tremor (ET), a common a movement disorder, associated with cognitive dysfunction. Objective: To assess the cognitive function in non-western cohort of patients with ET and correlate with concomitant anxiety, depression and quality of life. Method: The sample consisted of 30 patients with ET and 30 matched healthy controls. The tools used were socio - demographic data sheet, Edinburgh Handedness inventory, Hospital anxiety and depression rating scales, World Health Organization Quality of life - BREF (QOL) and the NIMHANS Neuropsychological Battery. Results: The results shows patients with ET performed significantly worse than controls on tests of motor speed, sustained attention, executive functions, learning and memory. In addition, patients with ET had higher measures of anxiety and depression as well as lower measures of QOL. Conclusion: The current study results support the finding that cognitive deficits along with emotional disturbances and impaired QOL are clinical features of ET.

Mayo Older Americans Normative Studies: Factor Analysis of an Expanded Neuropsychological Battery

The Mayo Cognitive Factor Scores were derived from a “core battery” consisting of the WAIS-R, WMS-R, and Auditory Verbal Learning Test. The present study sought to clarify the factor structure of an expanded neuropsychological battery in normal elderly controls. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the WAIS-III, WRAT-3 Reading, Boston Naming Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Category Fluency, Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure, Visual Form Discrimination, and Trail Making Test A & B. A base four-factor model consistent with the WAIS-III factor structure was utilized. Only one novel five-factor model differentiating processing and motor speed tests improved upon this base model. Other models did not, including a factor for executive function, division of construction/visuospatial ability, or “hold”/“no hold” language abilities.

Cognitive development in children with chronic protein energy malnutrition

BackgroundMalnutrition is associated with both structural and functional pathology of the brain. A wide range of cognitive deficits has been reported in malnourished children. Effect of chronic protein energy malnutrition (PEM) causing stunting and wasting in children could also affect the ongoing development of higher cognitive processes during childhood (>5 years of age). The present study examined the effect of stunted growth on the rate of development of cognitive processes using neuropsychological measures.MethodsTwenty children identified as malnourished and twenty as adequately nourished in the age groups of 5–7 years and 8–10 years were examined. NIMHANS neuropsychological battery for children sensitive to the effects of brain dysfunction and age related improvement was employed. The battery consisted of tests of motor speed, attention, visuospatial ability, executive functions, comprehension and learning and memoryResultsDevelopment of cognitive processes appeared to be governed by both age and nutritional status. Malnourished children performed poor on tests of attention, working memory, learning and memory and visuospatial ability except on the test of motor speed and coordination. Age related improvement was not observed on tests of design fluency, working memory, visual construction, learning and memory in malnourished children. However, age related improvement was observed on tests of attention, visual perception, and verbal comprehension in malnourished children even though the performance was deficient as compared to the performance level of adequately nourished children.ConclusionChronic protein energy malnutrition (stunting) affects the ongoing development of higher cognitive processes during childhood years rather than merely showing a generalized cognitive impairment. Stunting could result in slowing in the age related improvement in certain and not all higher order cognitive processes and may also result in long lasting cognitive impairments.

Motor speed and lower extremity strength as predictors of fall-related bone fractures in elderly individuals

The purpose of this prospective population-based study was to examine the combined effects of motor speed and knee extension strength on risk of fall-related bone fractures in elderly individuals over a 10-year period. Participants were 307 men and women aged 75 or 80 years at baseline, who visited the research laboratory at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Multi-choice motor speed tests and maximal isometric knee extension strength tests were carried out at baseline. Information on fractures was collected from hospital and health center records. The presence of impairment was defined as a score in the lowest tertile of sex- and age-stratified distribution of results in each test. During the 10-year period, 93 participants had at least one fracture. In Cox proportional hazards models for motor speed and knee extension strength, the risk of fracture was almost double in the lowest vs the highest tertile of each test score. For those in the poorest speed and strength tertiles compared with the best speed and strength tertiles, the relative risk of fracture adjusted for age, sex and bone mineral density was 4.69 (95% confidence interval 1.72-12.81). Increased risk of fracture was observed for those with either slow motor speed or poor lower extremity strength; however, a combination of these impairments increased the fracture risk significantly when compared with those with no impairments. A co-impairment approach may prove useful in gaining better understanding of the risk of fall-related bone fractures and the development of effective interventions.

The neuropsychological phenotype of velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS): Relationship to psychopathology

Children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS; N = 14) and a comparison group of siblings ( N = 8) underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment to examine the relationship between cognitive functioning and psychopathology. Significant group differences were obtained on tests of full scale and verbal intellectual functioning and perceptual–motor skills. With the exception of performance on tests of attention and executive functioning, children with VCFS displayed a profile consistent with nonverbal learning disability (NLD). However, within group comparisons revealed significantly poorer visuospatial intellectual and nonverbal memory functioning in sibling controls as well. No significant group differences were obtained on tests of motor speed, academic, language, attention, memory, or executive functioning, with significant variability in children with VCFS frequently accounting for the lack of robust differences. Parent-report measures revealed profiles consistent with ADHD. No clinically significant symptoms of psychosis, depression or anxiety were noted on either self- or parent-report measures. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance was found to be highly and negatively correlated with the Thought Problems subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for VCFS children only, suggesting a possible at-risk indicator for later onset psychopathology.

Early neurocognitive function of patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

This was a prospective, descriptive study. The study took place in cardiovascular units at a large urban metropolitan, midwestern tertiary care hospital. Fifty-four patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery were included. Outcome measures were neurocognition preoperatively at baseline (within 72 hours of surgery) and postoperatively (at least 72 hours after surgery but before discharge). In neurocognitive tests of cognition (memory, language, and attention) there was an improvement in the cognitive composite from the preoperative baseline to the postoperative follow-up (P < .001). However, in tests of motor function (motor speed and information processing speed) there was a decline in the motor composite (P = .006). After off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, patients had an overall improvement in tests of memory, language, and attention (cognitive composite), but a decline in tests of motor speed and information processing speed (motor composite).

Interactive relations of central versus total obesity and blood pressure to cognitive function

To examine the potential interactive relations of central versus total obesity and blood pressure (BP) to cognitive function. In all, 90 healthy, stroke, and dementia-free middle-aged and older adults (ages 54-81 years; 63% male; 93% White) underwent biomedical and neuropsychological assessment. Relations of central obesity (assessed by waist circumference (WC)) and systolic or diastolic BP to cognitive function were examined in multiple regression models. Next, body mass index (BMI) was substituted for WC in the models. After statistical adjustment for age, education, gender, and other potential confounders including components of the metabolic syndrome (depending on the model), significant interactions of WC and systolic (or diastolic) BP were noted for the Grooved Pegboard - Dominant Hand and Stroop Interference scores, with marginally significant results for Grooved Pegboard - Nondominant Hand. In general, individuals with greater WC and higher BP performed most poorly on these measures. Similar results were obtained for BMI. Independent of other confounders including facets of the metabolic syndrome, the combination of greater WC (or BMI) and higher (systolic or diastolic) BP was associated with diminished performance on tests of motor speed and manual dexterity, and executive function (i.e. response inhibition) accounting for 3-13% of the variance in these measures. In healthy older adults, there are similar, negative relations of central and total obesity to cognitive function that are potentiated by higher BP levels.

Gender differences in the relation of hypertension to cognitive function in older adults

Here we examined potential interactive relations of hypertension and gender to cognitive function in 98 healthy, older adults (ages 55–83 years; 64% male; 92% White). After statistical adjustment for age and education, hypertensives performed significantly more poorly than normotensives on tests of motor speed and manual dexterity (p < 0.05). The adverse consequences of hypertension in older adults was more pronounced for female than male hypertensives on tests of delayed visual memory, visual attention and working memory, visuoconstructional ability, motor speed and manual dexterity for the non-dominant hand (p < 0.05); these are dimensions of performance for which female gender may be a relative disadvantage. The findings suggest the need to further examine subgroups that are vulnerable to the cognitive correlates of hypertension. The results also highlight the need for increased attention to blood pressure control in older adults for the preservation of cognitive function.

Psychological test performance during experimental challenge to toluene and n-butyl acetate in cases of solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy

This study determined whether performance in neurobehavioral tests deteriorates during subjectively annoying chemical challenge below known neurotoxic thresholds among persons with toxic encephalopathy with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals. Subjects with symptoms and previous neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy (TE) of either type 2A (N=12) or 2B (N=12) and unexposed referents (N=12) were challenged in an exposure chamber. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were exposed on 2 occasions to increasing air concentrations of n-butyl acetate and toluene at levels well below the thresholds for neurotoxic effects. Attention and motor speed tests were given (i) in room air outside the chamber before the challenge, (ii) in room air inside the chamber before the exposure, (iii) at 12 ppm (44 or 56 mg/m3), and (iv) at 48 ppm (at 180 or 228 mg/m3). For both substances the TE groups showed a slight increase (deterioration) in the simple reaction-time task during chemical exposure, but not in the complex reaction-time task or in the digit symbol test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Contrary to reference subjects, the TE subjects did not show any improvement or learning effect in the digit symbol test over the chamber phases. n-Butyl acetate tended to affect cognitive functioning more obviously than toluene did. Suggestion or expectancy effects were not observed in any group in the clean-air baseline conditions. The results do not support the notion that men with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals would be more affected than healthy men regarding cognitive functioning during annoying solvent exposure below thresholds for acute neurotoxic effects.

Methylmercury exposure affects motor performance of a riverine population of the Tapajós river, Brazilian Amazon.

Gold mining and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon are increasing mercury pollution of the extensive water system, exposing riverine populations to organic mercury through fish-eating. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of such exposure on motor performance. This cross-sectional study was carried out in May 1996, in a village located on the banks of the Tapajós river in the Amazonian Basin, Brazil. Information concerning sociodemographics, health, smoking habits, alcohol drinking, dietary habits and work history were collected using an interview-administered questionnaire. Mercury concentrations were measured by cold vapor atomic absorption in blood and hair of each participant, of whom those aged between 15 and 79 years were assessed for motor performance (n = 84). Psychomotor performance was evaluated using the Santa Ana manual dexterity test, the Grooved Pegboard Fine motor test and the fingertapping motor speed test. Motor strength was measured by dynamometry for grip and pinch strength. Following the exclusion of 16 persons for previous head injury, working with mercury in the goldmining sites, or for diabetes, the relationship between performance and bioindicators of mercury was examined using multivariate statistical analyses, taking into account covariables. All participants in the study reported eating fish, which comprised 61.8% of the total meals eaten during the preceding week. The median hair total mercury concentration was 9 microg/g. Organic mercury accounted for 94.4 = 1.9% of the total mercury levels. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that hair mercury was inversely associated with overall performance on the psychomotor tests, while a tendency was observed with blood mercury. Semipartial regression analyses showed that hair total mercury accounted for 8% to 16% of the variance of psychomotor performance. Neither hair nor blood total mercury was associated with the results of the strength tests in women and men. Although dose-effect relationships were observed in this cross-sectional study, they may reflect higher exposure levels in the past. The findings of this study demonstrated neurobehavioral manifestations of subtle neurotoxic effects on motor functions, associated with low-level methylmercury exposure.

Psychomotor performance and monoamine function in bipolar and unipolar affective disorders

Background: Affective disorders are associated with prominent psychomotor abnormalities that may be related to changes in arousal or motivation due to altered catecholamine function.Methods: We investigated relationships between performance on psychomotor tests of motor speed (reaction time and tapping speed) and visual tracking (trail making and dot placement) and catecholamine system function including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or urinary concentrations of catecholamines or their metabolites. Subjects were medicine-free inpatients with unipolar depression or with manic, depressive, or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder, and healthy controls matched by gender and stratified by age.Results: Unipolar and bipolar depressed patients were impaired in motor speed, dexterity, and visual tracking, whereas manic and mixed patients did not differ from controls. Tapping speed correlated positively with CSF 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in healthy controls and with CSF homovanillic acid in bipolar depressed subjects. Increased catecholamine function correlated with slowing in all other measures for patients with bipolar disorder. Relationships between catecholamines and psychomotor function were weaker in unipolar depressed subjects. Psychomotor function was related to severity of depression in bipolar, but not in unipolar, patients.Conclusions: These data suggest that catecholamine systems are associated with increased arousal and psychomotor impairment in patients with bipolar disorder. Similar behavioral changes have different neurotransmitter relationships in unipolar disorder.

Assessing the neuropsychological profile of stable schizophrenic outpatients.

In an administration of the Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB), stable schizophrenic outpatients (n = 26) showed significant impairment (P < 0.05) relative to normal control subjects (n = 28) in overall function and measures of verbal learning. Except on tests of motor speed, the performance profile of schizophrenic patients was similar to that of elderly normal control subjects (n = 33). This profile of deficits is consistent with findings of other investigators in similar patient populations. In addition to displaying sensitivity to the mild impairments found in outpatients, the CNTB showed high test-retest reliability (r = 0.76, P < 0.0001). It should be useful for evaluating cognitive impairment in clinical trials of prospective treatments.