Dual Task Effects on Speed and Accuracy During Cognitive and Upper Limb Motor Tasks in Adults With Stroke Hemiparesis

BackgroundAdults with stroke need to perform cognitive–motor dual tasks during their day-to-day activities. However, they face several challenges owing to their impaired motor and cognitive functions.ObjectiveThis case-controlled pilot study investigates the speed and accuracy tradeoffs in adults with stroke while performing cognitive–upper limb motor dual tasks.MethodsTen adults with stroke and seven similar-aged controls participated in this study. The participants used a robotic arm for the single motor task and participated in either the serial sevens (S7) or the controlled oral word association test (COWAT) for single-cognitive task. For the dual task, the participants performed the motor and cognitive components simultaneously. Their speed and accuracy were measured for the motor and cognitive tasks, respectively.ResultsTwo-sample t-statistics indicated that the participants with stroke exhibited a lower motor accuracy in the cross task than in the circle task. The cognitive speed and motor accuracy registered by the subjects with stroke in the dual task significantly decreased. There was a negative linear correlation between motor speed and accuracy in the subjects with stroke when the COWAT task was performed in conjunction with the cross task (ρ = −0.6922, p = 0.0388).ConclusionsThis study proves the existence of cognitive–upper limb motor interference in adults with stroke while performing dual tasks, based on the observation that their performance during one or both dual tasks deteriorated compared to that during the single task. Both speed and accuracy were complementary parameters that may indicate clinical effectiveness in motor and cognitive outcomes in individuals with stroke.

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Abstract P216: Speed-Accuracy Tradeoffs During Cognitive and Upper-Limb Horizontal Movement Tasks in Chronic Strokes

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Hogene Kim ◽

Hyunjong Lee ◽

Kwon Ilho

Keyword(s):

Visual Feedback ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Dual Task ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Motor Speed ◽

Motor Tasks ◽

Dual Tasks ◽

Cognitive Speed ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Speed And Accuracy

Objectives: This study investigated cognitive-motor interference on the relationship of speed and accuracy during a cognitive and upper-limb motor dual task. Method: Nine stroke patients (56.5±7.3 years; M:9) participated in a series of cognitive-motor dual tasks. A subject with chronic stroke was seated with paretic hand fastened on the handle and then one of five motor tasks was provided (Figure 1A). Visual feedback in a front screen was synchronized as the handle cursor moves within the movement trajectory with two difficulty levels (5cm or 10cm). In a dual task, a cognitive task, Serial Seven(S7), was concurrently provided with a randomly chosen number at the onset of the motor task by a test administrator.Figure 1 Cognitive-Motor dual task setup (left up) and trajectory shapes (Diagonoal; Mediolateral; Anteroposterior; Cross; Circle) and level of difficulties (Easy 10cm or Hard 5cm) in motor tasks. The motor speed and accuracy and the cognitive speed and accuracy were evaluated during one-minute trial time. Pearson-correlation coefficients evaluated outcome relationship of the speed and accuracy in single or cognitive-motor dual tasks with the significance level 0.05 using a commercial statistics package (SPSS ver 22, Chicago IL,US). Results: There were significant positive correlation between single and dual motor speeds ( Easy :R 2 =0.678,p<0.001; Hard : R 2 =0.714,p<0.001) and significant negative correlationbetween single motor speed and dual cognitive speed ( Easy : R 2 =0.661,p<0.001; Hard :R 2 =0.6523,p<0.001) (Figure 1B) Conclusions: There were significant correlations between the upper-limb horizontal movements with visual feedback and S7 cognitive task. This study may provide useful information on upper-limb motor robotic therapies using 2D horizontal upper-limb movements.

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Modifications in Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation in Linear and Curvilinear Dual Task Walking: A Combined fNIRS and IMUs Study

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21186159 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (18) ◽

pp. 6159

Author(s):

Valeria Belluscio ◽

Gabriele Casti ◽

Marco Ferrari ◽

Valentina Quaresima ◽

Maria Sofia Sappia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Dual Task ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Real Life ◽

Motor Task ◽

Hemoglobin Concentration ◽

Cortical Activation ◽

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Gait Quality

Increased oxygenated hemoglobin concentration of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been observed during linear walking, particularly when there is a high attention demand on the task, like in dual-task (DT) paradigms. Despite the knowledge that cognitive and motor demands depend on the complexity of the motor task, most studies have only focused on usual walking, while little is known for more challenging tasks, such as curved paths. To explore the relationship between cortical activation and gait biomechanics, 20 healthy young adults were asked to perform linear and curvilinear walking trajectories in single-task and DT conditions. PFC activation was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, while gait quality with four inertial measurement units. The Figure-of-8-Walk-Test was adopted as the curvilinear trajectory, with the “Serial 7s” test as concurrent cognitive task. Results show that walking along curvilinear trajectories in DT led to increased PFC activation and decreased motor performance. Under DT walking, the neural correlates of executive function and gait control tend to be modified in response to the cognitive resources imposed by the motor task. Being more representative of real-life situations, this approach to curved walking has the potential to reveal crucial information and to improve people’ s balance, safety, and life’s quality.

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Low educational status restrains mental resources management in dual tasks

Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior ◽

10.20338/bjmb.v6i3.181 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 32-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mariane A. Machado ◽

Mariana C. Voos ◽

Patrícia S. Teixeira ◽

Maria E. Piemonte ◽

Luiz Eduardo R. do Valle

Keyword(s):

Dual Task ◽

Formal Education ◽

Motor Task ◽

Educational Status ◽

Visual Task ◽

Dual Tasks ◽

Dual Task Condition ◽

Status Group ◽

Mental Resources ◽

High Educational

Some studies have reported the influence of educational status on visual and motor tasks.The aim of this study was to compare the performance of adults with low (2.3±1.9 years of formal education) and high educational status (16.1±4.0 years) in a dual-task, composed of a visual and a motor task performed simultaneously.The visual task consisted of the presentation of two pictures that had to be verbally classified as equal or different. The motor task consisted of alternating steps from the floor to a stool.The tasks were assessed individually (simple-task) and associated (dual-task), and the performance in each condition was compared by ANOVAs. The low educational status group (LESG) committed more errors in the visual stimuli classification and performed a lower number of alternations of steps per second when compared to the high educational status group (HESG). During the dual-task performance, visual task errors increased and the number of alternations of steps per second decreased for both groups, in comparison with the single-task. However, the LESG was less accurate at classifying the stimuli during the dual-task condition than the HESG. Our findings suggest that having only a few years of formal education might decrease the ability to manage mental resources in dual-tasks.

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“Effect of Secondary Cognitive and Motor Tasks on Selected Gait Parameters in Different Age Groups”

International Journal Of Medical Science And Clinical Invention ◽

10.18535/ijmsci/v8i06.01 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (06) ◽

pp. 5437-5441

Author(s):

Raee Saeed Alqhtani ◽

Adel Alshahrani ◽

Mohammed Abdul Rahman Jarrar ◽

Reyaz Ahmed ◽

Hashim Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Dual Task ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Age Groups ◽

Motor Task ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Repeated Measure ◽

Automatic Process ◽

Motor Tasks ◽

Gait Parameters

Since walking is a dynamic activity which is an automatic process and attention demanding task. Dual task while walking may cause changes in gait, therefore this study primarily aims to identify whether a secondary cognitive or motor task would have a greater effect on gait parameters in different age groups. Secondarily, it aims to examine difference in gait performance between young and older adults while performing cognitive and motor tasks. Student’s t- test and Repeated measure analysis of variance was used for Statistical analyses. Older group had significantly higher gait time (mean difference: 2.61,3.86, and 6.37seconds), lower stride length (mean difference: 0.26, 0.25, and 0.28 cm), and higher step width (mean difference: 1.46,1.85, and 3.13cm) during simple walking task, motor task and cognitive task while walking, respectively as compared to young adults.This study concludes that the secondary cognitive task has affect the selected gait parameters more in young and older adults as compared to secondary motor task. Additionally, dual task performance has shown difference between gait of young and older adults

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The Influence of Social Contexts on Motor and Cognitive Performance: Performing Alone, in Front of Others, or Coacting With Others

Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology ◽

10.1123/jsep.2021-0101 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Christian Kaczmarek ◽

Alexander Schmidt ◽

Anna Sophie Emperle ◽

Sabine Schaefer

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Task ◽

Memory Task ◽

Motor Task ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Future Research ◽

Motor Speed ◽

Group Settings ◽

Complex Cognitive Task ◽

Simple Motor Task

Group settings can help or hinder performances. We conducted two studies in a sporting context. Participants performed alone and in groups in which the other participants served as spectators or as coactors. In Study 1, 33 CrossFit athletes performed a timed fine motor task (stacking cups) and a gross motor task (planks). Plank performance increased in front of spectators and in the coacting condition as compared with the alone condition, whereas stacking performances were not affected by the social context. Study 2 assessed a working memory task (three-back) and a timed obstacle course requiring primarily motor speed. Subjects were 42 sports students. Spectators led to performance deteriorations in the complex cognitive task but to improved performances in the simple motor task, supporting the predictions formulated by Strauss. Future research should investigate whether the effects are mediated by the perception of one’s own performance compared with the group or by personality traits.

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A novel protocol to assess dual task cost as a potential measure of cognitive reserve

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.020 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S77-S77

Author(s):

A. Oliveira-Maia ◽

I. Coelho ◽

J.B. Barahona-Corrêa ◽

V. Paixão ◽

M. Camacho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Dual Task ◽

Cognitive Reserve ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Motor Task ◽

Periodic Signal ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Dual Task Cost

IntroductionMethods for measuring cognitive reserve (CR) are limited and controversial. Dual task cost (DTC) paradigms, assessing links between gait and cognition, are increasingly regarded as robust measures of CR.ObjectivesHere, we aimed to validate a simplified methodology for a DTC paradigm in healthy volunteers for application in clinical settings as a measurement of CR.MethodsWe tested if subtracting by 7's (cognitive task) while walking (motor task) induced a DTC in a sample of 39 healthy young adults. For the cognitive task, we recorded the number of correct and incorrect subtractions, as well as the latency between subtractions. Gait parameters were recorded on a tri-axial accelerometer fixed to the left ankle. Both tasks were performed separately (single task) and simultaneously (double task) to assess the DTC. A battery for neuropsychological assessment and questionnaires to assess quality of life and affective symptoms were also applied, to measure possible correlations with the DTC.ResultsSubtracting 7's while walking caused significant changes in gait parameters and in cognitive task performance. A significant decrease in the autocorrelation of the accelerometer signal during the dual task was also found (DTC = 37.92 ± 7.56%; P < 0.0001). This measure has not been previously used and may be a more sensitive measure of the dual task induced disturbance of the gait periodic signal pattern. Correlations between DTC and quality of life, affective or cognitive measures were not significant.ConclusionOur study provides an effective, portable and non-intrusive DTC experimental protocol that can be easily applied in clinical settings.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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A-25 The Effect of Cognitive Dual-Tasks on Dynamic Postural Sway During Sub-Maximal Gait on a Treadmill

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology ◽

10.1093/arclin/acaa036.25 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 621-621

Author(s):

M A Kelly ◽

N Morelli ◽

H L Clayton ◽

A M Parks ◽

N R Heebner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dual Task ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Measurement Unit ◽

Dual Tasks ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dual Task Condition ◽

Anterior Posterior

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of a cognitive task on postural control during treadmill walking. We hypothesized that postural sway acceleration would decrease during dual-task compared to single-task gait. Method Ten (5 females, 5 males) physically active, healthy young adults (Age: 22.50 ± 3.01) with no history of cognitive deficits or head injury were recruited from a University campus for this cross-sectional study. Participants reported to a biomechanics laboratory for a single testing session and completed two, 5-minute walking trials on a treadmill at 90% of maximal gait-speed under single and dual-task conditions while instrumented with a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) on the lower-back. During dual-task gait, participants concurrently performed a Stroop Test displayed on a mounted screen in front of the treadmill during the entire trial. Root mean square (RMS) of acceleration was analyzed in the medial-lateral, anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and resultant planes during the dual-task trial. Paired t-tests and effect sizes (ES) were calculated for each sway plane between single and dual-tasks. Results No differences were identified between single and dual-task RMS acceleration in the medial-lateral (p = 0.98, ES = 0.01), anterior-posterior (p = 0.49, ES = 0.23) or superior-inferior (p = 0.98, ES = 0.01) planes. However, the RMS acceleration in the resultant plane was lower in the dual-task condition (Mean Difference: 0.031 ± 0.037; p = 0.02, ES = 0.85). Conclusions This novel dual-task gait paradigm utilized constant sub-maximal gait speed to investigate the influence of a sustained cognitive dual-task on postural sway using a single IMU. These preliminary results indicate that this dual-task gait paradigm may affect gross postural sway in healthy adults.

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The feasibility of assessing cognitive and motor function in multiple sclerosis patients using robotics

Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental Translational and Clinical ◽

10.1177/2055217320964940 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 205521732096494

Author(s):

Leif ER Simmatis ◽

Albert Y Jin ◽

Sean W Taylor ◽

Etienne J Bisson ◽

Stephen H Scott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Motor Task ◽

Cognitive Domain ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Clinical Assessments ◽

Disability Status ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes pervasive motor, sensory and cognitive dysfunction. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is the gold standard for assessing MS disability. The EDSS is biased towards mobility and may not accurately measure MS-related disabilities in the upper limb or in cognitive functions (e.g. executive function). Objective Our objectives were to determine the feasibility of using the Kinarm robotic system to quantify neurological deficits related to arm function and cognition in MS patients, and examine relationships between traditional clinical assessments and Kinarm variables. Methods Individuals with MS performed 8 robotic tasks assessing motor, cognitive, and sensory ability. We additionally collected traditional clinical assessments and compared these to the results of the robotic assessment. Results Forty-three people with MS were assessed. Most participants could complete the robotic assessment. Twenty-six (60%) were impaired on at least one cognitive task and twenty-six (60%) were impaired on at least one upper-limb motor task. Cognitive domain task performance correlated most strongly with the EDSS. Conclusions Kinarm robotic assessment of people with MS is feasible, can identify a broad range of upper-limb motor and sensory, as well as cognitive, impairments, and complements current clinical rating scales in the assessment of MS-related disability.

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Cognitive and motor task performance under single- and dual-task conditions: effects of consecutive versus concurrent practice

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-021-06130-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rainer Beurskens ◽

Dennis Brueckner ◽

Hagen Voigt ◽

Thomas Muehlbauer

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Dual Task ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Motor Task ◽

Significant Group ◽

Task Values ◽

Concurrent Execution ◽

Test Conditions ◽

Task Measure ◽

Task Conditions

AbstractThe concurrent execution of two or more tasks simultaneously results in performance decrements in one or both conducted tasks. The practice of dual-task (DT) situations has been shown to decrease performance decrements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of consecutive versus concurrent practice on cognitive and motor task performance under single-task (ST) and DT conditions. Forty-five young adults (21 females, 24 males) were randomly assigned to either a consecutive practice (INT consecutive) group, a concurrent practice (INT concurrent) group or a control (CON) group (i.e., no practice). Both INT groups performed 2 days of acquisition, i.e., practicing a cognitive and a motor task either consecutively or concurrently. The cognitive task required participants to perform an auditory stroop task and the number of correct responses was used as outcome measure. In the motor task, participants were asked to stand on a stabilometer and to keep the platform as close to horizontal as possible. The time in balance was calculated for further analysis. Pre- and post-practice testing included performance assessment under ST (i.e., cognitive task only, motor task only) and DT (i.e., cognitive and motor task simultaneously) test conditions. Pre-practice testing revealed no significant group differences under ST and DT test conditions neither for the cognitive nor the motor task measure. During acquisition, both INT groups improved their cognitive and motor task performance. The post-practice testing showed significantly better cognitive and motor task values under ST and DT test conditions for the two INT groups compared to the CON group. Further comparisons between the two INT groups revealed better motor but not cognitive task values in favor of the INT consecutive practice group (ST: p = 0.022; DT: p = 0.002). We conclude that consecutive and concurrent practice resulted in better cognitive (ST condition) and motor (ST and DT test conditions) task performance than no practice. In addition, consecutive practice resulted in superior motor task performance (ST and DT test conditions) compared to concurrent practice and is, therefore, recommended when executing DT practice schedules.

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The Effects of Different Types of Dual Tasking on Balance in Healthy Older Adults

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11090933 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 933

Author(s):

Graça Monteiro de Barros ◽

Filipe Melo ◽

Josefa Domingos ◽

Raul Oliveira ◽

Luís Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Dual Task ◽

Balance Control ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Motor Task ◽

Dual Tasking ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Single Motor ◽

Different Types

Numerous of our daily activities are performed within multitask or dual task conditions. These conditions involve the interaction of perceptual and motor processes involved in postural control. Age-related changes may negatively impact cognition and balance control. Studies identifying changes related to dual-task actions in older people are need. This study aimed to determine the effects of different types of dual-tasking on the balance control of healthy older adults. The sample included 36 community-living older adults, performing two tests—a sway test and a timed up-and-go test—in three conditions: (a) single motor task; (b) dual motor task; and (c) dual motor task with cognitive demands. Cognitive processes (dual-task and cognition) affected static balance, increasing amplitude (p < 0.001) and frequency (p < 0.001) of the center of mass displacements. Dynamic balance revealed significant differences between the single motor condition and the other two conditions during gait phases (p < 0.001). The effect of dual-tasking in older adults suggests that cognitive processes are a main cause of increased variability in balance and gait when under an automatic control. During sit-to-stand, turning, and turn-to-sit movements under dual-tasking, the perceptive information becomes the most important focus of attention, while any cognitive task becomes secondary.

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