Event:

Abstract:

Neurological symptoms can inform on degree of neurodevelopmental load and may be useful for early detection of psychosis.
Aim: to study whether tablet-based measures of dexterity can provide behavioral markers for detection of first-episode psychosis (FEP). We also investigated how cortical excitability and inhibition related to neurological sings.
Method: behavioral and neurophysiological testing was obtained in 20 persons with FEP, 20 persons with stabilized schizophrenia (SCZ), 20 persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and 20 healthy controls. Five tablet-tasks assessed different motor and cognitive functions: Finger Recognition (FR) for mental rotation, Rhythm Tapping (RhT) for temporal judgement, Sequence Tapping (ST) for procedural memory, Multi Finger Tapping (MFT) for motor inhibition, and Line Tracking (LT) for visuomotor precision and attentional modulation. Clinical neurological soft signs (NSS) and medication data were also collected. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure cortical excitability and cortical inhibition.
Results: Compared to controls, FEP patients showed slower reaction times and higher errors in FR, and more variability in rhythmic finger tapping (RhT). Tablet-based measures showed enhanced detection of FEP vs. controls (90% sensitivity and 75%) specificity compared to clinical NSS (XX sensitivity and XX specificity). RhT performance allowed for discrimination between FEP and ASD/SCZ patients. Random Forest analysis confirmed dexterity variables of interest and identification of groups. FEP had similar cortical excitability but reduced cortical inhibition compared to controls and other groups but no clear correlations with dexterity were found.
Conclusion: Easy-to-use tablet-based measures of dexterity are promising markers for the detection of FEP.


Zoom link:
https://tum-conf.zoom.us/j/94253017197 Meeting-ID: 942 5301 7197 Kenncode: 033542