Fingertapping Experiment fNIRS

Friday, 19 de February de 2021
Fingertapping Experiment fNIRS

Brain Support and NIRx always recommend starting your fNIRS research by collecting and analyzing data using a well-known sensory or cognitive task on healthy adults. We offer the following experimental resources to help you do that with your fNIRS experiments. When implemented properly, these paradigms yield robust results. 

Conducting them and analyzing their data will ensure that you understand the basics of fNIRS data collection, experimental design and data analysis. With this experience under your belt, you will have the foundation to apply this exciting neuroimaging tool to your specific application of interest

stroop experiment

Fingertapping experiment - Definition

Finger Tapping Experiment - Ocean Conservation Research

According to Lauren Schmitt: The finger-tapping test (FTT) is a neuropsychological test that examines motor functioning, specifically, motor speed and lateralized coordination. During administration, the subject's palm should be immobile and flat on the board, with fingers extended, and the index finger placed on the counting device. One hand at a time, subjects tap their index finger on the lever as quickly as possible within a 10-s time interval, in order to increase the number on the counting device with each tap. [1]

Fingertapping Experiment - Experimental Design

This experiment consists of a montage over the motor cortices and the following experimental protocol:

  • The participant sits comfortably in a chair with a hand resting on each leg.

  • When prompted by the sound or visual cue ‘left’ or ‘right’, the participant will tap each finger on the prompted hand (either left or right), continuously until the sound or visual ‘stop’ 10 seconds later.

  • The participant rests for 15 seconds.

  • Each stimulus is presented 5 times, for a total of 10 trials.


Fingertapping Experiment - Hypotheses

  1. Contralateral activation will be significantly greater in each condition, close to the C3 (right condition) and C4 (left condition) positions according to the 10/20 international system.

    1. Right activation>Left activation during the left condition

    2. Left activation>Right activation during right condition

  2. Contralateral activation will be significantly greater in the task with the participants’ dominant hand

Fingertapping Experiment - Hypotheses


  1. Contralateral activation will be significantly greater in each condition, close to the C3 (right condition) and C4 (left condition) positions according to the 10/20 international system.

    1. Right activation>Left activation during the left condition

    2. Left activation>Right activation during right condition

  2. Contralateral activation will be significantly greater in the task with the participants’ dominant hand





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