Left/Right Judgment Task for the Chest Region, Part 1: Performance Outcomes in Healthy Women Compared to Women Post Breast Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Background: Movement planning and execution involve using our internal representations within motor and sensory areas of our brain. Left/right judgment tasks (LRJTs) are behavioral tests that involve determining the side of the body when shown an image, without performing the movement. Individuals theoretically need to use their working body schemas to complete LRJTs. Objectives: To develop a chest LRJT testing protocol and document performance in healthy women and women post breast cancer (BrCA) treatment. Design: Observational, cohort study. Method: We recruited women with and without a history of unilateral BrCA. Participants provided demographic and health history information online, followed by hand, shoulder, and chest LRJTs. Images were digitally mirrored to create equal numbers of left and right images. Images were presented in random order within each body region. We measured accuracy and response time for LRJTs. Results: A total of 316 healthy women and 160 women post-BrCA treatment competed all testing. The BrCA group was consistently slower and less accurate at performing LRJTs for all 3 regions. The side of the image presented was not associated with performance. Conclusions: We successfully developed a chest LRJT testing method. Performance on LRJT of the upper quarter is diminished after BrCA treatment. We established tolerance intervals for anticipated performance in healthy women for future clinical and research comparisons.