Finger Tapping Test - Keyboard

Technical Manual

Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Last Modified: January 12, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Background

This script offers an adaptation of the Finger Tapping Test (aka Finger Tapping Oscillation Test) - FTT- for the computer. The FTT is a test of self-directed motor-speed.

This script is based on the description published in Strauss et al (2006).

References

Strauss, E., Sherman, E. M. S., & Spreen, O. (2006). A compendium of neuropsychological tests : administration, norms, and commentary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0516/2005020769.html

https://books.google.com/books?id=jQ7n4QVw7-0C&pg=PA1043&lpg= PA1043&dq=Finger+Tapping+Test&source=bl&ots=F52XMBRtZ5&sig= 6fAZl7iCbkBccO4sws0OMiflUCk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Pwn6ToKgKIrjiALoqdyhDg&ved=0CF0Q6AEwBg#v= onepage&q=Finger%20Tapping%20Test&f=false

Reitan, R. M. (1979). Manual for administration of neuropsychological test batteries for adults and children. Tucson, AZ: Neuropsychology Laboratory.

Duration

7 minutes

Description

Participants are instructed to tap the SPACEBAR with either the index finger of their dominant or non-dominant hand as often as they can within a 10s time period (=default). The 10s time period starts with the first tap. Valid taps are those that occur within that 10s time period.

Procedure

Testing Order

Testing starts with a practice round, followed by 5-10 testing rounds with the dominant hand and ends
after 5-10 rounds of testing with the non-dominant hand.
After each round of testing, participants receive feedback and get at least a 10s (=default) rest period.
After every 3 (=default) testing rounds, this resting period is increased to 60s (=default).

1. Practice Phase: 10S (Task: Press The Spacebar As Many Times As You Can)

2. Test Phase 1: Dominant Hand

• runs minimum 5 blocks (10s each) and maximum 10
• after 5 blocks are run, the tapping counts are ranked and compared to each other: if 5 scores are are within 5 taps (default) of each other
the FinalScore is calculated. If the FinalScore is found, no more blocks are run for the current hand. If the
FinalScore is not found, an additional block is run. The Phase ends after max. 10 blocks.
If no five scores can be found that are within 5 taps of each other after 10 blocks, the average tapping count is used as the Final Score

3. Test Phase 2: Non-Dominant Hand

Instructions

see script fingertapping_instructions_inc.iqjs

Scoring

Score(Non)Dominant

Participants run through a mandatory number of 5 rounds (=blocks). The scores (=number of taps) get ranked from lowest to highest
If the scores of these 5 rounds are within 5 (=default) taps of each other, the final score is the mean tapping score.
If the score of these 5 rounds are not within 5 taps of each other, an additional block is run, until 5 scores can
be found that are within a 5-point range (checking starts from the 5 highest ranked scores to the lowest ranked scores).
The final score is the mean of these 5 scores.
The maximum number of rounds is 10. If no 5 scores can be found that are within a 5 point range from each other,
the final score is the mean of all 10 tapping scores.
A separate score for the dominant and the non-dominant hand is kept.

Summary Data

File Name: fingertapping_summary*.iqdat

Data Fields

Name	Description
inquisit.version	Inquisit version number
computer.platform	Device platform: win \| mac \|ios \| android
computer.touch	0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities
computer.hasKeyboard	0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected
startDate	Date the session was run
startTime	Time the session was run
subjectId	Participant ID
groupId	Group number
sessionId	Session number
elapsedTime	Session duration in ms
completed	0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed
roundCountD	Number of rounds run for the Dominant Hand (Range: 5-10), see scoring section
roundCountN	Number of rounds run for the Nondominant Hand (Range: 5-10), see scoring section
scoreD	The final score for the dominant hand
scoreN	The final score for the non-dominant hand
lateralizationRatio	(1- nonDominantScore/dominantScore) => a value more than 0.1 (10%) suggests an issue with localized brain dysfunction
tiD	Mean tap interval in ms (dominant hand), measured across all dominant rounds => tapping speed
sdTID	Standard deviation (SD) of the tap intervals for all dominant tap intervals => variability measure of tapping speed
cvTID	Coefficient of variation (CV), relative measure % => lower CV indicates higher consistency
tiN	Mean tap interval in ms (nondominant hand), measured across all nondominant rounds => tapping speed
sdTIN	Standard deviation (SD) of the tap intervals for all nondominant tap intervals => variability measure of tapping speed
cvTIN	Coefficient of variation (CV), relative measure % => lower CV indicates higher consistency

Raw Data

File Name: fingertapping_raw*.iqdat

Data Fields

Name	Description
build	Inquisit version number
computer.platform	Device platform: win \| mac \|ios \| android
computer.touch	0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities
computer.hasKeyboard	0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected
date	Date the session was run
time	Time the session was run
subject	Participant ID
group	Group number
session	Session number
blockcode	The name the current block (built-in Inquisit variable)
blocknum	The number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialcode	The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialnum	The number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run even those that do not store data to the data file.
response	Response in the current trial (e.g. 57 = spacebar press)
dominantHand	Whether the dominant (1) or the non-dominant hand (0) is tested
roundCount	Keeps track of the number of rounds/blocks run for each hand
tapCount	Counts the valid taps in each round (=score)
rank1-rank10	The ranking of the scores
scoreDetermined	1 = the final score was determined; 0 =otherwise
finalScore	The final score for the current hand
scoreD	The final score for the dominant hand
scoreN	The final score for the non-dominant hand
restperiod	The duration of the restperiod after a round
parameters.maxdifference	The max difference in scores of the five scores used to calculate final score
parameters.blockLength	The duration of a block ("round") - after the first tap
ti	Stores an array of all the tap intervals in the current round

Parameters

The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.

Name	Description	Default
maxdifference	The maximal difference between 5 consecutive scores	5
blockLength	Determines the length (in s) of the block	10000
longrestperiod	Determines how long the restperiod (in s) is after block3 (and block6)	60000
regularrestperiod	Determines the regular restperiod (in s) after a block	10000
longrestperiodBlock	Determines after how many blocks there should be a longer restperiod	3