Pupillometry provides a psychophysiological index of arousal level and cognitive effort during the performance of a visual-auditory dual-task in individuals with a history of concussion

Background: Sports-related concussion is a worldwide problem. There is a concern that an initial concussion can cause prolonged subclinical disturbances to sensorimotor function that increase the risk of subsequent injury. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether a history of sports-related concussion has effects on static and dynamic balance performance in adolescent rugby players. Hypothesis: Dynamic balance would be worse in players with a history of concussion compared with those with no history of concussion. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Male adolescent rugby players aged 14 to 18 years from 5 schools were recruited before the start of the 2018-2019 playing season. Participants completed questionnaires and physical tests, including dynamic Y balance and single-leg static balance (eyes closed) tests, while performing single and dual tasks. Dynamic balance was assessed using inertial sensor instrumentation. Dependent variables were normalized reach distance and the sample entropy (SEn) of the 3 axes ( x, y, and z). Results: Of the 195 participants, 100 reported a history of concussion. Those with a history of concussion demonstrated higher SEn in all directions, with highest values during anterior (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.4; 95% CI, 0.0-0.7; P = .027) and posteromedial (SMD, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9; P = .004) reach directions compared with those with no history. There was no difference between groups (concussion history vs control) in traditional Y balance reach distances in the anterior or posteromedial directions or single-leg static balance during both single- ( P = .47) and dual-task ( P = .67) conditions. Conclusion: Adolescent rugby union athletes with a history of concussion had poorer dynamic balance during performance tasks compared with healthy controls. Static single-leg balance tests, either single or dual task, may not be sensitive enough to detect sensorimotor deficits in those with a history of concussion.

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Case Report: Combining Dalfampridine with Multicomponent Exercise and Gait Training in a Person with Multiple Sclerosis

International Journal of MS Care ◽

10.7224/1537-2073.2017-074 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 238-243

Author(s):

Prudence Plummer ◽

Corinne J. Bohling ◽

L. Ellese Nickles ◽

Alexis A. Williams ◽

Amy Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Case Report ◽

Dual Task ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Gait Training ◽

Important Change ◽

Relapsing Remitting ◽

History Of ◽

Task Conditions ◽

Clinically Important Change

Abstract Background: Dalfampridine extended release (D-ER) improves gait speed in some people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but many patients who take D-ER demonstrate only small improvements of questionable clinical significance. Physical therapy (PT) may augment the treatment effects of D-ER on the nervous system and improve clinical outcomes. This case report describes the successful use of D-ER combined with multicomponent PT in a patient who did not have a clinically important change in gait speed with D-ER alone. Methods: A 59-year-old woman with a 6-year history of relapsing-remitting MS was prescribed D-ER by her neurologist. After 3 weeks of D-ER therapy (10 mg twice daily), she demonstrated only a 7.1% improvement in the Timed 25-Foot Walk test. She then commenced PT consisting of two 40-minute sessions per week for 6 weeks while continuing D-ER therapy. Training focused on gait, balance, coordination, functional strengthening, and dual-task performance. Results: After 6 weeks of D-ER + PT, she had a further 14.6% improvement in Timed 25-Foot Walk gait speed, for a total improvement of 20.7%, which elevated her above the clinically meaningful threshold of 20%. Similar patterns of improvement were also observed for self-selected gait speed in single- and dual-task conditions. Improvements in fast and dual-task gait speed were retained 3 weeks later. Conclusions: For this patient, combining PT with D-ER therapy improved gait speed more than the use of D-ER alone. Further investigation of D-ER + PT or PT as an alternative to D-ER in patients with submeaningful medication response is warranted.

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The Influence of Anger-arousal Level on Attribution of Hostile Intent and Problem Solving Capability in an Individual with a Mild Intellectual Disability and a History of Difficulties with Aggression

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities ◽

10.1111/j.1468-3148.2005.00264.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 99-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kenneth M. A. MacMahon ◽

Andrew Jahoda ◽

Colin A. Espie ◽

Niall M. Broomfield

Keyword(s):

Intellectual Disability ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Arousal Level ◽

Mild Intellectual Disability ◽

Anger Arousal ◽

Hostile Intent ◽

History Of

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Transitioning to a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee: Executive functioning during single and dual-task gait

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364619892773 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 27-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nerrolyn Ramstrand ◽

David F Rusaw ◽

Saffran Filippa Möller

Keyword(s):

Executive Functioning ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Study Design ◽

Dual Task ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Cognitive Effort ◽

Limb Amputation ◽

Prosthetic Knee ◽

Testing Occasion ◽

Before And After

Background: Walking with a prosthesis requires substantial concentration on behalf of the user and places increased demands on executive functions. Little is known of the effects that prosthetic knee joint prescription may have on executive functioning. Objectives: Evaluate executive functioning in trans-femoral prosthesis users during single and dual-task walking, before and after they transition to a Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee unit. Study Design: Multiple case-study design. Methods: Single and dual task gait was evaluated while recording cortical brain activity. Testing occasion 1 occurred prior to participants receiving their microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee, while testing occasion 2 was conducted a minimum of 8 months after they had been fitted with an microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee. Results: During single-task level walking and walking while performing a dual-task key finding test, executive functions, measured as the relative haemodynamic response in the frontal cortex, reduced for most, but not all participants after transitioning to an Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee. There did not appear to be any difference when participants performed a trail walk test. Conclusions: Results suggest Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee prosthetic knees may have a positive effect on executive functioning for some individuals who have undergone a lower-limb amputation. A larger, longitudinal study with careful control of extraneous variables (e.g. age, training) is needed to confirm results and determine causality. Clinical relevance This article provides some evidence to suggest that prosthetic prescription may influence executive functioning and that microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee mechanisms may reduce cognitive effort when walking.

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The use of a dual-task procedure for the assessment of cognitive effort associated with cigarette craving

Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1007/bf02805989 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 127 (1-2) ◽

pp. 155-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Antonio Cepeda-Benito ◽

Stephen T. Tiffany

Keyword(s):

Dual Task ◽

Cognitive Effort ◽

Cigarette Craving

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Gait, dual task and history of falls in elderly with preserved cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and mild Alzheimer's disease

Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy ◽

10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.03.010 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 144-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Juliana H. Ansai ◽

Larissa P. Andrade ◽

Paulo G. Rossi ◽

Anielle C.M. Takahashi ◽

Francisco A.C. Vale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Dual Task ◽

History Of ◽

Falls In Elderly

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Extraversion and task properties as determinants of incidental recall

European Journal of Personality ◽

10.1002/per.2410020105 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 57-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

José Bermúdez ◽

Ana M. Pérez ◽

Miguel Padilla

Keyword(s):

Hierarchical Structure ◽

Dual Task ◽

Task Design ◽

Arousal Level ◽

The Hierarchical Structure ◽

Attentional Selectivity ◽

Structural Levels ◽

And Task

The present research investigated in a dual task design the effects of extraversion level and structural task properties on the recall of an incidentally learned text. First, the hypothetical relation between arousal level and attentional selectivity was tested. Second, the relation between structural levels in the text and recall of text elements was studied. It was found that (a) extraverts performed significantly better on incidental recall compared to introverts; (b) the nuclear sentences at the top of the hierarchical structure were the best recalled sentences, independently of arousal level; (c) the effect of differences in arousal on recall was only significant in case of the top sentences. The effect was absent in case of specificúsecondary sentences.

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