The execution of the Grooved Pegboard test in a Dual-Task situation: A pilot study

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 6; no. 8; p. e04678
• Main Authors: Petrigna, Luca, Pajaujiene, Simona, Iacona, Gaetano Marco, Thomas, Ewan, Paoli, Antonio, Bianco, Antonino, Palma, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Counting backward test; Finger tapping test; Manual dexterity; Musculoskeletal system; Neurology; Neuroscience; Physiology; Public health; Secondary task; Musculoskeletal system; Neurology; Neuroscience; Manual dexterity; Counting backward test; Finger tapping test; Physiology; Secondary task; Public health
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04678

Manual dexterity is an important aspect in everyday life, which is widely studied through the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT). Since Dual-Tasks (DT) activities are widely investigated and important to simulate everyday life situations, the objectives of the present pilot study were the evaluation of the effect of a cognitive task and a motor task during the performance of the GPT and the feasibility of the GPT in a DT contest. A secondary objective was to evaluate the training effect of the GPT. A total of 31 young adults (20 man and 11 woman, age (SD): 27.7 (2.5)) performed the GPT eight times to understand the presence of a training effect before performing the GPT in DT. The additional tasks were a secondary cognitive task and a secondary motor task. All participants were able to complete the required conditions. The GPT performed in motor DT were significantly slower than those performed singularly (p < 0.01). The GPT performed with the cognitive task was slower than the secondary motor task (p < 0.05). A training effect was present up to the 4th consecutive trial. The GPT can be executed with a cognitive or motor task to increase the difficulty of the trial to better evaluate manual dexterity and cognitive capacities. Neuroscience; Public Health; Musculoskeletal System; Physiology; Neurology; manual dexterity, finger tapping test, counting backward test, secondary task.