Line-Drawing Test across Ages

Abstract

A line-drawing test was standardized for normal subjects to examine effects of normal aging. For this purpose, the results of the test for 168 normal volunteers were quantified using a digitizer and a microcomputer across ages from 9 to 78 yr. Three sets of parallel vertical lines were presented to every subject, the distances between the parallel vertical lines (5. 10, and 15 cm) differed in the three sets. A subject drew an horizontal line starting exactly on the left vertical line and stopped exactly on the right one, and the computer could detect minute inaccuracy at the start and at the stop, which inaccuracy was expressed in mm. In this study, effects of four parameters were evaluated, i.e., ages, sex, distances from the paired vertical lines, and order of trials; all were nonsignificant. The normal range of the deviations was within 2.1 mm (average + 2 SD).