Fitts Law in People With Cerebral Palsy

December 20, 2016 updated by: Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro, University of Sao Paulo

Evaluation of Speed-accuracy Trade-off in a Computer Task in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive disorder in the brain which makes the control and execution of movements difficult. One of the possible ways to analyze motor control in these individuals could be through analysis of movement speed and accuracy. Objective: To verify the speed-accuracy trade-off in individuals with CP. Method: 96 individuals were evaluated, 48 with CP and 48 with typical development (TD), matched by age and sex. The software used was the "Fitts' Reciprocal Aiming Task v.1.0 (Horizontal)", performed on a computer using an external optical mouse, with progressive indices of difficulty (IDs): ID2, ID4a and ID4b. Each index of difficulty was performed three times and the total time/touches captured.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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Completed

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

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Detailed Description

The software used in this study was "Fitts' Reciprocal Aiming Task v.1.0 (Horizontal)" developed by Okazaki, in the public domain and available on the Internet, which was performed on a Toshiba notebook®, model Satellite A60-S1561 System Unit, with the use of an external optical mouse, Fortrek® OM-302.

This instrument can be used to verify motor control through analysis of the speed and accuracy of movement, which can be determined through the log-linear relation between movement time and task difficulty using a mathematical equation, and analyzed by Fitts' law, which describes the relation between movement accuracy and speed, associated with target size and distance11. Thus, the task used in this study was composed of targets of different sizes, being that the smaller targets require more time to execute due to the necessity of increased accuracy and, if the distance between targets reduces, the speed of movement becomes greater and the accuracy decreases.

In relation to target size (W) and distance between targets (D), the equation log2 (2D/W) results in an index of difficulty (ID), where the higher the ID, the more difficult the task, a fact that necessitates greater movement time.

To evaluate the speed and accuracy, two different indices of difficulty were used in this study (ID2 and ID4). The difficulty level was increased by changing the width and distance between the bars. In addition, ID4 was used in two different ways (ID4a and ID4b), for which the distance between the bars and the width were different, but the ID was maintained.

3 Procedure and design The experiment was composed of three trials at each of the two IDs: 2 and 4 (ID 4 had two kinds of measurement - ID4a and ID4b), and the participants performed the tasks individually in a room, with only the evaluator present, seated on a chair (or their own wheelchair), which was adjusted in height according to the needs of the individual. A footrest was available, when necessary. The computer was placed on a table, and each participant was given instructions and presented with the task, in which the individual, after hearing an alarm from the computer, was required to click with an external mouse cursor on two parallel bars which were arranged vertically, intermittently, with the greatest speed and accuracy possible, for a period of 10 seconds, followed by a second alarm which indicated the end of the attempt.

Directly following the attempt, the total movement time was registered, by dividing the seconds obtained in each attempt by the number of "clicks" on targets. If more than two clicks were wrong, the individual repeated the task.

Procedure and design The experiment was composed of three trials at each of the two IDs: 2 and 4 (ID 4 had two kinds of measurement - ID4a and ID4b), and the participants performed the tasks individually in a room, with only the evaluator present, seated on a chair (or their own wheelchair), which was adjusted in height according to the needs of the individual. A footrest was available, when necessary. The computer was placed on a table, and each participant was given instructions and presented with the task, in which the individual, after hearing an alarm from the computer, was required to click with an external mouse cursor on two parallel bars which were arranged vertically, intermittently, with the greatest speed and accuracy possible, for a period of 10 seconds, followed by a second alarm which indicated the end of the attempt.

Directly following the attempt, the total movement time was registered, by dividing the seconds obtained in each attempt by the number of "clicks" on targets. If more than two clicks were wrong, the individual repeated the task.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
96

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

7 years to 30 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • medical diagnosis of CP;
  • levels I to IV according to the GMFCS;
  • levels I to III according to MACS.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • presence of surgery or a chemical neuromuscular blockade in the upper limbs within six months prior to participation in the study;
  • lack of comprehension of the experimental instructions.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Cerebral Palsy group
Group with Cerebral Palsy that performed the Fitts law in a computer task
Behavioral: Cerebral Palsy group
Group with Cerebral Palsy that performed the Fitts law in a computer task
Active Comparator: Control group
Group with typical development that performed the Fitts law in a computer task
Behavioral: Control group
Group with typical development that performed the Fitts law in a computer task

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Motor control test by using a fitts law task in computational task
Time Frame: one day
one day

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Sao Paulo

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Carlos BM Monteiro, Ph.D., University of Sao Paulo

Publications and helpful links

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General Publications

Study record dates

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Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

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January 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 19, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 20, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 23, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 23, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 20, 2016

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 14652713.9.0000.0082

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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