title: Computer task performance by subjects with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Two specific objectives were established to quantify computer task performance among people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). First, we compared simple computational task performance between subjects with DMD and age-matched typically developing (TD) subjects. Second, we examined correlations between the ability of subjects with DMD to learn the computational task and their motor functionality, age, and initial task performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 84 individuals (42 with DMD, mean age of 18±5.5 years, and 42 age-matched controls). They executed a computer maze task; all participants performed the acquisition (20 attempts) and retention (five attempts) phases, repeating the same maze. A different maze was used to verify transfer performance (five attempts). The Motor Function Measure Scale was applied, and the results were compared with maze task performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the acquisition phase, a significant decrease was found in movement time (MT) between the first and last acquisition block, but only for the DMD group. For the DMD group, MT during transfer was shorter than during the first acquisition block, indicating improvement from the first acquisition block to transfer. In addition, the TD group showed shorter MT than the DMD group across the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DMD participants improved their performance after practicing a computational task; however, the difference in MT was present in all attempts among DMD and control subjects. Computational task improvement was positively influenced by the initial performance of individuals with DMD. In turn, the initial performance was influenced by their distal functionality but not their age or overall functionality.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of ABC, Santo Andre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Regina Pinheiro
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Malheiros
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talita Dias
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francis Meire
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of ABC, Santo Andre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Abreu
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fregni
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Cardoso
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of ABC, Santo Andre, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Bandeira
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: de Mello Monteiro
keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; computer task; motor learning; movement time