QUANTIFICATION OF MOTOR CONTROL WITH TRACKING ACCURACY.

This paper describes a tracking system with which to quantify the accuracy of human motor performance. An Apple IIe computer was programmed to display a variety of patterns which serve as targets for both a handgrip tracking test and a joint-position tracking test. Accuracy of performance is determined by calculating the root-mean-square error between the target and the response; in addition, an accuracy index is derived from each response. These tests should be useful clinically in the early identification of motor control impairment in certain patients, as well as in the evaluation of the effectiveness of many clinical procedures designed to improve motor function.