scholarly journals The Influence of Cognitive Load on Balance Control During Steady-State Walking

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella H Small ◽  
Lydia G Brough ◽  
Richard Neptune
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
And Control

Abstract BackgroundFor an individual to walk, they must maintain control of their dynamic balance. However, situations that present an increased cognitive load may impair an individual’s ability to control their balance. While dual-task studies have analyzed walking-while-talking conditions, few studies have focused specifically on the influence of cognitive load on balance control. The purpose of this study was to assess how individuals prioritize their cognitive resources and control dynamic balance during dual-task conditions of varying difficulty. MethodsYoung healthy adults (n = 15) performed two single-task conditions (spelling while standing and walking with no cognitive load) and three dual-task conditions (walking with increasing cognitive load: attentive listening, spelling short words backwards and spelling long words backwards). Repeated measures analysis of variances were used to assess differences in balance outcome measures and cognitive performance. ResultsCognitive performance did not change between the single- and dual-task conditions as measured by percent error and response rate ( p = 0.3). Balance control, assessed as the range of whole-body angular momentum, did not change between the no load and listening conditions, but decreased during the short and long spelling conditions ( p < 0.001). ConclusionsThese results showed that balance control decreases during dual-task treadmill walking with increased cognitive loads, but that cognitive performance does not change. The decrease in balance control suggests that participants prioritized cognitive performance over balance control during these dual-task walking conditions. This work offers additional insight into the automaticity of walking and task-prioritization in healthy individuals and provides the basis for future studies to determine differences in neurologically impaired populations.

Effects of cognitive and physical loads on dynamic and static balance of older adults under single, dual and multi-task conditions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Allahverdipour ◽  
Iman Dianat ◽  
Galavizh Mameh ◽  
mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Static Balance ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
And Control ◽  
Single Versus

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cognitive and physical loads on dynamic and static balance of older adults under single, dual and multi-task conditions. Methods: The effects of single versus combined (dual-task and multi-task) cognitive (to speak out the name of the weekdays in a reverse order) and physical (with three levels including handling weights of 1kg, 2kg and 3kg in each hand) loads on dynamic and static balance of 42 older adults (21 males and 21 females), aged ≥ 60 years were studied. Dynamic and static balance measures were evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and stabilometer (sway index) tests, respectively. Results: The TUG speed of female participants was generally slower than that of male participants. Cognitive task influenced the participants’ dynamic balance during the dual-task conditions, while the static balance was not affected in this phase. The dynamic and static balance measures were more influenced when performing the multi-tasks than when doing the dual-tasks. The effects of various levels of physical demand on the dynamic balance varied greatly under dual- and multi-task conditions. Conclusions: The findings add to the understanding of the factors influencing the elderly balance and control under cognitive and physical functioning.

Effects of Cognitive and Physical Loads on Dynamic and Static Balance Performance of Healthy Older Adults Under Single-, Dual-, and Multi-task Conditions

2020 ◽  
pp. 001872082092462
Author(s):  
Hamid Allahverdipour ◽  
Iman Dianat ◽  
Galavizh Mameh ◽  
Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Static Balance ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Physical Task ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
And Control

Objective The aim of this study is to examine the effects of cognitive and physical loads on dynamic and static balance performance of healthy older adults under single-, dual-, and multi-task conditions. Background Previous studies on postural control in older adults have generally used dual-task methodology, whereas less attention has been paid to multi-task performance, despite its importance in many daily and occupational activities. Method The effects of single versus combined (dual-task and multi-task) cognitive (to speak out the name of the weekdays in a reverse order) and physical (with three levels including handling weights of 1, 2, and 3 kg in each hand) loads on dynamic and static balance performance of 42 older adults (21 males and 21 females) aged ≥60 years were examined. Dynamic and static balance measures were evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and stabilometer (sway index) tests, respectively. Results The TUG speed of female participants was generally slower than that of male participants. Age had no effect on balance performance measures. Under dual-task conditions, cognitive load decreased the dynamic balance performance, while the physical task levels had no effect. The dual-task conditions had no impact on the static balance performance. The effects of cognitive and physical loads on dynamic balance performance varied under dual- and multi-task conditions. Conclusion The findings highlight differences between dual- and multi-task protocols and add to the understanding of balance performance in older adults under cognitive and physical loads. Application The present study highlights differences between dual- and multi-task methodologies that need to be considered in future studies of balance and control in older adults.

Core and Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Improve Military Foot March Performance in Novice Trainees: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin D Lyons ◽  
Aaron G Parks ◽  
Oluwagbemiga D Dadematthews ◽  
Nilophar L Zandieh ◽  
Paige A McHenry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Training ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of the present study was to investigate core exercise training and whole-body vibration (WBV) as a training method to improve performance and recovery from an 8-km military foot march in novice trainees. Materials and Methods A 3 × 5 repeated measures randomized control trial was used to evaluate the effects of core exercise training and WBV on performance and recovery from an 8-km foot march. Thirty-nine participants were randomized into three groups: core exercise (Ex), WBV with core exercise (WBVEx), and control. Each participant completed two 8-km foot marches (FM1 and FM2) with a 35 pound rucksack, separated by 4 weeks. Participants in the Ex and WBVEx groups completed 3 weeks of core exercise training, three times per week in between FM1 and FM2. Performance time, creatine kinase (CK), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. The Auburn University Institutional Review Board approved all aspects of this study (protocol number: 19-211 MR 1907). Results Performance time (P &lt; .001) and CK (P = .005) were significantly improved during FM2 as compared to FM1. The Ex (d = −0.295) and WBVEx (d = −0.645) treatments had a large effect on performance time. CK (P &lt; .001) and IL-6 (P &lt; .001) were significantly elevated at the completion of the foot march regardless of group. Only CK remained elevated for 2 days (P &lt; .001) following the foot march. Conclusions Core exercise training with or without WBV improved 8-km foot march performance time by 5-6 minutes. The improvements are likely because of an increase in trunk stability. Additionally, this study showed that completing two identical foot marches a month apart increases performance and improves recovery.

scholarly journals The Generation of Involuntary Mental Imagery in an Ecologically-Valid Task

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony G. Velasquez ◽  
Adam Gazzaley ◽  
Heishiro Toyoda ◽  
David A. Ziegler ◽  
Ezequiel Morsella
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Automated Driving ◽  
Dynamic Stimuli ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

Laboratory tasks (e.g., the flanker task) reveal that incidental stimuli (e.g., distractors) can reliably trigger involuntary conscious imagery. Can such involuntary effects, involving competing representations, arise during dual-task conditions? Another concern about these laboratory tasks is whether such effects arise in highly ecologically-valid conditions. For example, do these effects arise from tasks involving dynamic stimuli (e.g., simulations of semi-automated driving experiences)? The data from our experiment suggest that the answer to our two questions is yes. Subjects were presented with video footage of the kinds of events that one would observe if one were seated in the driver's seat of a semi-automated vehicle. Before being presented with this video footage, subjects had been trained to respond to street signs according to laboratory techniques that cause stimulus-elicited involuntary imagery. After training, in the Respond condition, subjects responded to the signs; in the Suppress condition, subjects were instructed to not respond to the signs in the video footage. Subjects in the Suppress condition reported involuntary imagery on a substantive proportion of the trials. Such involuntary effects arose even under dual-task conditions (while performing the n-back task or psychomotor vigilance task). The present laboratory task has implications for semi-automated driving, because the safe interaction between driver and vehicle requires that the communicative signals from vehicle to driver be effective at activating the appropriate cognitions and behavioral inclinations. In addition, our data from the dual-task conditions provide constraints for theoretical models of cognitive resources.

scholarly journals Manual stabilization reveals a transient role for balance control during locomotor adaptation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungwoo Park ◽  
James M. Finley
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Bipedal Walking ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Arm Swing ◽  
Angular Momenta ◽  
After Effect ◽  
Potential Factor

AbstractA fundamental feature of human locomotor control is the need to adapt our walking pattern in response to changes in the environment. For example, when people walk on a split-belt treadmill which has belts that move at different speeds, they adapt to the asymmetric speed constraints by reducing their spatiotemporal asymmetry. Here, we aim to understand the role of stability as a potential factor driving this adaptation process. We recruited 24 healthy, young adults to adapt to walking on a split-belt treadmill while either holding on to a handrail or walking with free arm swing. We measured whole-body angular momentum and step length asymmetry as measures of dynamic balance and spatiotemporal asymmetry, respectively. To understand how changes in intersegmental coordination influenced measures of dynamic balance, we also measured segmental angular momenta and the coefficient of limb cancellation. When participants were initially exposed to the asymmetry in belt speeds, we observed an increase in whole-body angular momentum that was due to both an increase in the momentum of individual limb segments and a reduction in limb cancellation. Holding on to a handrail reduced the perturbation to asymmetry during the early phase of adaptation and resulted in a smaller after-effect during post-adaptation. In addition, the stabilization provided by holding on to a handrail led to reductions in the coupling between angular momentum and asymmetry. These results suggest that regulation of dynamic balance is most important during the initial, transient phase of adaptation to walking on a split-belt treadmill.Summary StatementRegulation of balance exhibits a transient effect on adaptation to imposed asymmetries during bipedal walking. External stabilization attenuates initial deviations in spatiotemporal asymmetry but has no effect on subsequent adaptation.

scholarly journals Influence of Gymnastic Background on Triangle Completion Performance in Single and Dual-Task Conditions

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Garcia Popov ◽  
Nicole Paquet ◽  
Yves Lajoie
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Linear Displacement ◽  
Angular Deviation ◽  
Linear Distance ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
And Control ◽  
Triangle Completion ◽  
The Impact

Spatial orientation skills of gymnasts have been investigated in the past, but their navigation skills have not been well described. For instance, little is known on their performance on triangle completion in the absence of vision. The question is whether gymnasts require less attention than non-gymnasts in executing this task. The aims were to study the impact of dual-task on triangle completion performance and reaction time, and to compare this effect in young adults with or without a gymnastic background. Participants were blindfolded and guided along the first two legs of a 5x5 m right angle triangle and then, independently turned and walked towards the origin of this triangle. After they had stopped, their foot position was marked on the floor and angular deviation and linear distance traveled were measured. In the dualtask, reaction time was gathered during the independent walk with participants responding verbally ‘top’ as fast as possible after a sound signal. Gymnasts were found to have smaller angular deviation and longer linear distance traveled than non-gymnasts. Both groups showed longer reaction time in dual-task compared to baseline in sitting and this increase was similar for both groups. The results suggest that gymnastics training improves the perception and control of direction. However, it does not modify perception of linear displacement, nor the attention required to execute the triangle completion task. In dual-task, other cognitive tasks requiring working memory might have had a larger impact on both navigation errors and cognitive task performance.

scholarly journals Clinical feasibility and utility of a dual-task tandem gait protocol for pediatric concussion management

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew J. Wingerson ◽  
Corrine N. Seehusen ◽  
Gregory Walker ◽  
Julie C. Wilson ◽  
David R. Howell
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Task Trial ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
And Control ◽  
Test Completion ◽  
Tandem Gait

Abstract Context: Clinical management of sport-related concussion requires the assessment of various factors, including motor performance. The tandem gait test, a measure of post-injury motor performance, has demonstrated clinical utility, but is limited by time availability and test uniformity. Objective: To assess intrasession reliability between tandem gait test trials and determine the number trials necessary for optimal utility and feasibility in clinical decision-making following concussion. Design: Cross-Sectional Study Setting: Pediatric Sport Medicine Clinic Participants: Adolescent athletes who recently sustained a concussion (n=44; age=15.4±1.8 years; 39% female) and were seen for care within 14 days (7.3±3.2 days) of their injury, as well as uninjured control participants (n=73; age=15.8±1.3 years; 41% female). All participants completed three single-task and three dual-task tandem gait trials. Outcome Measures: We collected test completion time and cognitive performance for each trial and calculated Pearson correlation coefficients between trials and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients to determine intrasession reliability. We also compared performance between groups, and calculated area under the curve (AUC) values to identify the ability of each trial to distinguish between groups. Results: Both the concussion and control group demonstrated high intrasession reliability between tandem gait trials under single (R ≥ 0.82; ICC≥ 0.93) and dual-task conditions (R ≥ 0.79; ICC≥ 0.92). The greatest group classification values were obtained from the second single-task trial (AUC = 0.89) and first dual-task trial (AUC = 0.83). Test completion time provided excellent between-group discrimination in single-task and dual-task conditions. However, cognitive performance during dual-task trials demonstrated only marginally significant clinical utility (AUC ≤ 0.67). Conclusion: Tandem gait assessments may only require two trials under single-task and one trial under dual-task conditions to effectively discriminate between concussion and control groups. This approach may improve the feasibility (time requirement) of the test, while maintaining excellent discriminatory ability.

scholarly journals DUAL-TASK BALANCE CONTROL IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES FOLLOWING CONCUSSION

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0015
Author(s):  
Tracy Zaslow ◽  
Camille Burton ◽  
Nicole M. Mueske ◽  
Adriana Conrad-Forrest ◽  
Bianca Edison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Single Task

Background: Previous research has identified deficient dual-task balance control at the time of return to play (RTP) and possible worsening after RTP in older adolescents/young adults with concussion. These findings have not been investigated in younger patients with concussion. Hypothesis/Purpose: We hypothesized that concussed adolescents would have slower walking speed and increased medial-lateral (ML) center of mass (COM) movement, which would normalize by the time of RTP but worsen after resuming activity. Methods: 13 adolescent concussion patients (7 male; age 10-17 years) were prospectively evaluated at their initial visit (IV) (mean 18, range 4-43 days post-concussion), at RTP clearance (mean 46, range 12-173 days post-concussion), and one month later (mean 26, range 20-41 days post-RTP) along with 11 controls (3 male) seen for similarly timed visits. Standing balance was assessed using range and root mean squared (RMS) COM motion in the anterior-posterior (AP) and ML directions during standing on both legs with eyes open while performing quiet standing, dual-task audio Stroop, side-to-side head turns, and side-to-side thumb tracking tasks. Dynamic balance was assessed using walking speed and COM ML range and velocity during walking alone and with side-to-side head turns and verbal fluency (reciting words starting with “F”) dual tasks. Patients were compared against controls using t-tests, and changes over time were evaluated using linear mixed-effects regression. Results: During standing, patients had higher COM ML RMS than controls at IV during head turns and higher COM AP range during thumb tracking. COM ML motion decreased from IV to RTP (head turns range -6.5mm, p=0.058; head turns RMS -16.8mm, p=0.002; thumb range 9.2mm, p=0.012) and increased from RTP to 1 month follow-up (head turns RMS +10.0mm, p=0.040; Stroop RMS +8.4mm, p=0.086). Patients walked slower than controls at IV during all tasks, and COM ML range was higher in patients vs. controls during verbal fluency at IV and RTP. Walking speed increased from IV to RTP during verbal fluency (+7.8cm/s, p=0.044), from RTP to post-RTP in single task walking (+6.1cm/s, p=0.041), and at each successive visit during head turns (+6.0cm/s and +6.5cm/s, p<0.07). COM ML range also decreased in patients from IV to RTP with verbal fluency (-14.7mm, p=0.011) and from RTP to post-RTP in single task walking ( 4.0mm, p=0.061). Conclusion: Adolescent concussion patients had deficits in static and dynamic balance control at initial presentation. This tended to improve by RTP and only worsened post-RTP for dual-task ML control during standing, suggesting that current conservative treatment protocols are appropriate.

scholarly journals Balance Performance With a Cognitive Task: A Continuation of the Dual-Task Testing Paradigm

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob E. Resch ◽  
Bryson May ◽  
Phillip D. Tomporowski ◽  
Michael S. Ferrara
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Sensory Organization Test ◽  
Sensory Organization ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Visual Reference ◽  
Task Conditions

Abstract Context: To ensure that concussed athletes return to play safely, we need better methods of measuring concussion severity and monitoring concussion resolution. Objective: To develop a dual-task model that assesses postural stability and cognitive processing in concussed athletes. Design: Repeated measures study. Setting: University laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty healthy, college-aged students (10 men, 10 women; age  =  20 ± 1.86 years, height  =  173 ± 4.10 cm, mass  =  71.83 + 35.77 kg). Intervention(s): Participants were tested individually in 2 sessions separated by 2 days. In one session, a balance task and a cognitive task were performed separately. In the other session, the balance and cognitive tasks were performed concurrently. The balance task consisted of 6 conditions of the Sensory Organization Test performed on the NeuroCom Smart Balance Master. The cognitive task consisted of an auditory switch task (3 trials per condition, 60 seconds per trial). Main Outcome Measure(s): For the balance test, scores for each Sensory Organization Test condition; the visual, vestibular, somatosensory, and visual-conflict subscores; and the composite balance score were calculated. For the cognitive task, response time and accuracy were measured. Results: Balance improved during 2 dual-task conditions: fixed support and fixed visual reference (t18  =  −2.34, P &lt; .05) and fixed support and sway visual reference (t18  =  −2.72, P  =  .014). Participants' response times were longer (F1,18  =  67.77, P &lt; .001, η2  =  0.79) and choice errors were more numerous under dual-task conditions than under single-task conditions (F1,18  =  5.58, P  =  .03, η2  =  0.24). However, differences were observed only during category-switch trials. Conclusions: Balance was either maintained or improved under dual-task conditions. Thus, postural control took priority over cognitive processing when the tasks were performed concurrently. Furthermore, dual-task conditions can isolate specific mental processes that may be useful for evaluating concussed individuals.

scholarly journals Perception of a Haptic Stimulus Presented Under the Foot Under Workload

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2421
Author(s):  
Landry Delphin Chapwouo Tchakoute ◽  
Bob-Antoine J. Menelas
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Vibrotactile Stimulus ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Haptic Stimulus ◽  
Rest Condition ◽  
Task Conditions

It is clear that the haptic channel can be exploited as a communication medium for several tasks of everyday life. Here we investigated whether such communication can be altered in a cognitive load situation. We studied the perception of a vibrotactile stimulus presented under the foot when the attention is loaded by another task (cognitive load). The results demonstrated a significant influence of workload on the perception of the vibrotactile stimulus. Overall, we observed that the average score in the single-task (at rest) condition was greater than the overall mean score in the dual-task conditions (counting forwards, counting backwards, and walking). The walking task was the task that most influenced the perception of the vibrotactile stimulus presented under the foot.

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