Gender- and Age-Specific Changes in Motor Speed and Eye-Hand Coordination in Adults: Normative Values for the Finger Tapping and Grooved Pegboard Tests

Abstract

Normative values for the Finger Tapping and Grooved Pegboard Tests were developed on a sample of 360 normal volunteers stratified according to gender, three educational groups ranging from 7 to 22 years, and four age groups subdivided between the ages of 16 to 70 years. Retest reliability was estimated for both measures. The Finger Tapping Test showed significant gender differences, since women were substantially slower, particularly in the older age groups. On the Grooved Pegboard Test, a converse gender difference was noted, since women were substantially faster than men. A smaller effect with increasing age resulted, and better educated individuals performed faster. If these motor and visuomotor tests are to be applied, then stratified normative estimates need to be implemented to provide viable clinical judgements.