Finger to Nose Test

Iverson, Grant L.

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_179

Finger to Nose Test

Grant L. Iverson⁵

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The Finger-to-Nose-Test measures smooth, coordinated upper-extremity movement by having the examinee touch the tip of his or her nose with his or her index finger. On one variation of the test, the examiner holds out his or her finger, about an arm’s length from the patient. The patient is instructed to touch the examiner’s finger, then his or her own nose. After several successful trials, the patient is then asked to repeat the action more quickly. Moving the target finger can increase the difficulty of the task.

Current Knowledge

This test is part of a comprehensive neurological examination. It is typically employed as part of coordination testing. The examiner looks for evidence of intention tremor or dysmetria. Dysmetria is evidenced by difficulty in controlling the range of movement. Dysmetria can result in undershooting or overshooting the target stimuli (i.e., examiner’s finger and/or examinee’s nose). Damage to the cerebellum can adversely affect a person’s ability...

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References and Readings

Dietrichs, E. (2008). Clinical manifestation of focal cerebellar disease as related to the organization of neural pathways. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 188 (Supplement), 6–11.
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Notermans, N. C., van Dijk, G. W., van der Graaf, Y., van Gijn, J., & Wokke, J. H. (1994). Measuring ataxia: Quantification based on the standard neurological examination. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry, 57, 22–26.
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Swaine, B. R., Desrosiers, J., Bourbonnais, D., & Larochelle, J. L. (2005). Norms for 15- to 34-year-olds for different versions of the finger-to-nose test. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86, 1665–1669.
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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia British Columbia Mental Health & Addictions, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, V6T 2A1, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Grant L. Iverson

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Grant L. Iverson
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Editors and Affiliations

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Professor of Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry Virginia Commonwealth University – Medical Center Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VCU, 980542, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0542, USA
Jeffrey S. Kreutzer
Kessler Foundation Research Center, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ, 07052, USA
John DeLuca
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, USA
John DeLuca
Independent Practice, 564 M.O.B. East, 100 E. Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood, PA, 19096, USA
Bruce Caplan

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Iverson, G.L. (2011). Finger to Nose Test. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_179

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_179
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-79947-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79948-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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