Effects of Mental Activity on Hand Skill Rate Performance Ability among Second Grader Medical Students ()
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Determination of hand skill rate is thought to be important
for the functional evaluation of nervous system. Therefore, hand skill
performance monitoring could be a reliable measure for the effect of
audio-visual medical teaching on central nervous system. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the effect of mental activity on the hand skill rate
performance ability following one hour
audio-visual medical teaching. Methods: Participants were 34 healthy screened
right handed volunteers (19 female, 15 male, age between 18 - 22 years).
Hand skill rate performance time was assessed by Annett’s peg moving task. Each
participant repeated the task five times in a different time, before and after
the lecture. Data were analyzed by statistical software package SPSS. Statistical
significance level of p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results:
Hand skill rate performance time value was not associated with the gender difference.
Based on this result, statistical evaluation was performed without gender
discrimination (n = 34). When the hand skill rate performance times of each
hand were compared with the values obtained before and after lecture, it was
found that hand skill rate performance times for both right and left hands were
decreased in all subjects after the lecture. Conclusions: This study may
suggest that attending an audio-visual medical teaching lecture and performing
Annett’s peg moving test may both cause activation in the common areas of
nervous system. This activation may lead a state of alertness on the students,
which in turn affects hand skill rate performance time in a positive manner.
Therefore, we may suggest placing laboratory sessions in the curriculum at
least one hour following a theoretical lecture since this may lead to increasing
the success and the practicability of the sessions.
Share and Cite:
Gundogan, N. , Kiziltan, E. , Aydin, L. and Ogus, E. (2016) Effects of Mental Activity on Hand Skill Rate Performance Ability among Second Grader Medical Students.
Open Access Library Journal,
3, 1-6. doi:
10.4236/oalib.1102275.