I've updated the program which measures the speed of your hand/arm movements. It works by timing how long it takes you to press a sequence of keys on your computer's keyboard.

Previously the duration of the test was fixed, 30 seconds, as were the keys you could use: q and p. You are now able to set both the duration and the keys. This lets you change the size of the movements being timed, from simple finger taps (with the two keys close together), to wide movements of, even on a laptop, at least 30 cm (with the two keys as far apart as possible). This allows you to make it more comparable to one of the CAPSIT-PD tests.

This program can be run online (nothing to install) at:
http://www.parkinsonsmeasurement.org...eToSideTap.htm

I'll be grateful for feedback, especially bug reports.

This test has proved itself to be very useful to me in my white ratting, especially when I looked at fermented and liposomal bananas. It doesn't tell the whole story, but it tells enough of the story that IMHO it should be used by all white rats.

In the nine months I've been using this test my test scores (measured in the morning before any meds) have improved from a combined left and right hand score, using the p and q keys for 30 seconds, of about 20 to over 30 now. This raises a number of questions:

How much does repeated use train you to improve your performance?

Do clinical trials always take this into account? If it's not well controlled with plenty of training before the trial begins, my experience shows that a 50% improvement might have nothing to do with what is being trialed. Of course, this effect should also be picked up in the control group. In which case, it would be put down as the placebo effect.

How much of the placebo effect is due to training?

A final question:

Is repeated use of neurological tests good exercise?

John