Pegboard test

Effects noted from exposures of 2-2.5 hours at 1,000 ppm include impaired visual-motor coordination (measured by groove-type hand steadiness, depth perception, and pegboard tests) (Vernon and Ferguson 1969) and, at 200 ppm, an increase in heart and breathing rates when trichloroethylene was inhaled simultaneously with ethanol ingestion (Windemuller and Ettema 1978). This latter study found no effect without ethanol ingestion. An 8-hour exposure (two 4-hour exposures separated by 1.5 hours) to 110 ppm... 

To provide a more complete profile of performance skills, we needed to measure psychomotor function as well as scores on paper and pencil tasks. After discarding a small pegboard test used in the 1960 studies, we replaced it with a large flat board that rested on a table and used much larger holes and pegs. This reduced the need for the visual acuity required to place circular blocks into matching holes as rapidly as possible. 

In contrast to these reports of benzodiazepine-induced motor impairment, Kumar et al.138 found that chronic administration of 1 mg lorazepam and 0.5 mg alprazolam for 5 days had no effect on fine motor coordination as assessed using a standard pegboard test. Additionally, Tobler et al.139 reported that performance on a typing test was not impaired the day after an acute dose of 7.5 mg midazolam. 

Study (MACS) Rey Auditory Verbal Learnhig Test Trail Makhig Test Symbol Digit Modahties Test Gr ooved Pegboard Test CES Depression Scale... 

Each subject was tested on two fine-motor tasks, the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT), which assesses visual-motor coordination, and the Static Motor Steadiness Test (SMST), which assesses hand steadiness. Each subject performed the task first with the dominant hand and then with the nondominant... 

Number Facility (Fig. 30), the most consistently used single test of cognitive ability, was affected very similarly to Pegboard performance (Fig. 31), which is a test of psychomotor function. Near (Fig. 32) and Far (Fig. 33) visual acuity were likewise almost identically affected. 

Psychomotor Impairments were measured by such test batteries as the numerical facility, speed of closure, Purdue pegboard, and Strom-berg manual dexterity tests. Anecdotal reports, both by subjects and by staff, of changes In behavior and mood generally paralleled the other symptoms. The spectrum of the effects and their Intensity is similar to that commonly reported in the recent literature on cannabis studies in other volunteer populations. However, DMHP acetate seemed to elicit more orthostatic hypotension, and cannabis, a greater degree of mental effects. 

Twenty-eight subjects who received a rather low Ct of 4 mg min ur3 with 17% inhibition of erythrocyte cholinesterase activity took a battery of tests, including the Minnesota rate of manipulation, Purdue pegboard, dual pursuit meter, reaction time, a steadiness aiming device and an addition task (Davy and Gossar, 1959). Although their pupil sizes had decreased by at least 2 mm,... 

Effects of toluene in 52 men and paint solvents in 44 men were contrasted with unexposed men. Painters had impaired reading scores, trails B, visual search, block design, grooved pegboard, simple reaction time and verbal memory. Toluene exposed men had only abnormal reading scores reduced significantly, although scores on all tests were lower. 

Two tasks used on previous occasions, the pegboard and bead threading, were used again along with a new measure, the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Test... 

Hwang et al. (2002) evaluated 212 consecutively enrolled workers from the above cohort of 803 Korean workers for protein kinase C (PKC) activity and the relationship between BLL and neurobehavioral performance. BLLs of 5-69 pg/dL were significandy associated with decrements in Trails B, SRT, and Purdue Pegboard (three measures). PKC activity was measured by back-phosphorylation of erythrocyte membrane proteins and found not to be associated with neurobehavioral test scores. However, dichotomization at the median revealed significant effect modification the association of higher BLLs with poorer neurobehavioral performance occurred only in workers who had lower back-phosphorylation levels (which correspond to higher in vivo PKC activity). The authors suggested that PKC activity may identify a subpopulation at increased risk for neurobehavioral effects of lead. 

---