Computerised evaluation of cognitive and motor function

In this paper, we present a clinical study of computerised tracking in the evaluation of cognitive and motor function. We investigate its use in the a ssessment of effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as well as in the process of following the progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To simplify the experiments, we introduce real-time adaptation of the target speed. In the study with epileptic patients, three result groups are compared: blood levels of AEDs, scores on standard neuropsychological tests, and scores on computerised tracking and reaction time tests. It is found that the compute rised tests are repeatable, reliable and sensitive and may therefore be use ful in the evaluation of epilepsy treatment For example, while the blood le vels associated with AEDs lie in the therapeutic range, variations in the o ptimal speed (OSI between 0.9 and 1.1 (expressed in relative units) are rec orded. To significantly simplify the protocol for AD patients while preserv ing its main features, we introduce signal-processing techniques into the d ata analysis. Local signal property characteristics for AD are found which indicate that the preview tracking of an AD patient is similar to the non-p review tracking of a healthy control. This result is expected since the wor king memory, which is involved in movement planning, is impaired in AD. In non-preview tracking, healthy control subjects are mostly in tracking mode 1 and have a mean mode duration of 600 ms. In preview tracking, AD patients are mostly in mode 2 with a mean mode duration of 600 ms.