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Krasovsky T, Holtzer R, Jahjah E, Fruchter E. Trait anxiety increases the attentional cost of walking in young adults: A cross-sectional study. J Affect Disord 2024; 362:716-722. [PMID: 39009319 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety is a prevalent mental health disorder, with debilitating symptoms causing avoidance and decreased quality of life. Balance impairments during standing and walking are common in anxiety. However, understanding of gait control mechanisms in people with trait anxiety, particularly when walking requires increased attention (dual-task), is still limited. This work examined the attentional cost of walking in people with varying levels of trait anxiety. Since people with anxiety are often prone to Space and Motion Discomfort (SMD), this work also evaluated the potential role of SMD in the attentional cost of walking. METHODS Fifty-six participants, aged 18-51, classified as anxious and non-anxious, were asked to walk under single- and two dual-task conditions (cognitive: counting backwards; visuomotor: texting on a mobile phone). Task performance (walking, counting and texting) was measured. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation was recorded using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for a subset of participants (n = 29). RESULTS Anxious individuals walked slower under dual-task conditions, with smaller increases in PFC activation from single to dual-task conditions in the cognitive task. Dual-task walking was unrelated to SMD. LIMITATIONS sample size was limited, particularly for fNIRS data. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to identify anxiety-related deficits in attentional gait control in the general population, including during the everyday task of texting on a mobile phone. Since decrements in dual-task walking are linked to poor health outcomes, results from this work may have functional implications for people with anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Krasovsky
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Roee Holtzer
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Eyal Fruchter
- Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Möller S, Hagberg K, Ramstrand N. Cognitive load in individuals with a transfemoral amputation during single- and dual-task walking: a pilot study of brain activity in people using a socket prosthesis or a bone-anchored prosthesis. J Rehabil Med 2024; 56:jrm40111. [PMID: 39175448 PMCID: PMC11358844 DOI: 10.2340/jrm.v56.40111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore cognitive load in people with transfemoral amputations fitted with socket or bone-anchored prostheses by describing activity in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortices during single- and dual-task walking. DESIGN Cross-sectional pilot study. PATIENTS 8 socket prosthesis users and 8 bone-anchored prosthesis users. All were fitted with microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees. METHODS Participants answered self-report questionnaires and performed gait tests during 1 single-task walking condition and 2 dual-task walking conditions. While walking, activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Cognitive load was investigated for each participant by exploring the relative concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Symmetry of brain activity was investigated by calculating a laterality index. RESULTS Self-report measures and basic gait variables did not show differences between the groups. No obvious between-group differences were observed in the relative concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin for any walking condition. There was a tendency towards more right-side brain activity for participants using a socket prosthesis during dual-task conditions. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study did not identify substantial differences in cognitive load or lateralization between socket prosthesis users and bone-anchored prosthesis users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saffran Möller
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.
| | - Kerstin Hagberg
- Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Swede
| | - Nerrolyn Ramstrand
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden
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Hagen AC, Tracy BL, Stephens JA. Altered neural recruitment despite dual task performance recovery in athletes with repeat concussion. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.08.19.24312271. [PMID: 39228732 PMCID: PMC11370505 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.19.24312271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Sports-related concussions (SRCs) pose significant challenges to college-aged athletes, eliciting both immediate symptoms and subacute cognitive and motor function impairment. While most symptoms and impairments resolve within weeks, athletes with repeat SRCs may experience heightened risk for prolonged recovery trajectories, future musculoskeletal injuries, and long-term neurocognitive deficits. This includes impaired dual task performance and altered neurophysiology that could persist across the lifespan and elicit future pathophysiology and neurodegeneration. Thus, it is imperative to improve our understanding of neurophysiology after SRC. This study aimed to investigate the impact of repeat SRCs on dual task performance and associated neural recruitment using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). A total of 37 college-aged athletes (ages 18-24) participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Among these athletes, 20 had a history of two or more SRCs, while 17 had never sustained a SRC and served as controls. Participants completed the Neuroimaging-Compatible Dual Task Screen (NC-DTS) while fNIRS measured neural recruitment in the frontoparietal attention network and the primary motor and sensory cortices. Behavioral analysis revealed that athletes with repeat SRCs exhibited comparable single task and dual task performance to control athletes. Additionally, dual task effects (DTE), which capture performance declines in dual tasks versus single tasks, did not significantly differ between groups. Notably, the cohort of athletes with repeat SRC in this study had a longer time since their last SRC (mean = 1.75 years) than majority of previous SRC studies. Neuroimaging results indicated altered neural recruitment patterns in athletes with multiple repeat SRCs during both single and dual tasks. Specifically, athletes with repeat SRCs demonstrated increased prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation during single motor tasks compared to controls (P < 0.001, d = 0.47). Conversely, during dual tasks, these same athletes exhibited reduced PFC activation (P < 0.001, d = 0.29) and primary motor cortex (M1) activation (P = 0.038, d = 0.16) compared to their single task activation. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between SRC history, dual task performance, and changes in neurophysiology. While athletes with repeat SRCs demonstrate recovery in behavioral dual task performance, persistent alterations in neural recruitment patterns suggest ongoing neurophysiological changes, possibly indicating compensatory neural strategies and inefficient neural resource allocation, even beyond symptom resolution and medical clearance. Understanding the compensatory neural recruitment strategies that support behavioral performance following repeat SRCs can inform return-to-play decisions, future musculoskeletal injury risk, and the long-term impact of SRCs on neurocognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Hagen
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO, 80523, USA
| | - Brian L Tracy
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO, 80523, USA
| | - Jaclyn A Stephens
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO, 80523, USA
- Molecular Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523
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Chai KXY, Marie Goodwill A, Leuk JSP, Teo WP. Treadmill Walking Maintains Dual-task Gait Performance and Reduces Frontopolar Cortex Activation in Healthy Adults. Neuroscience 2023; 521:148-156. [PMID: 37105393 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Studies examining dual-task gait (DTG) have used varying conditions such as overground or treadmill walking, however it is not known whether brain activation patterns differ during these conditions. Therefore, this study compared oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) responses of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during overground and treadmill walking. A total of 30 participants (14M/16F) were recruited in a randomized crossover study comparing overground and treadmill walking under single- and dual-task (STG and DTG) conditions. The DTG consisted of performing walking and cognitive (serial subtraction by 7's) tasks concurrently. A portable 24-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy system was placed over the PFC, corresponding the left and right dorsolateral PFC and frontopolar cortices (DLPFC and FPC) during overground and treadmill STG and DTG. Results showed a reduction in gait speed during DTG compared to STG on overground but not treadmill walking, while cognitive performance was maintained during DTG on both overground and treadmill walking. A reduction in O2Hb was seen in the FPC during DTG compared to a cognitive task only, and on the treadmill compared to overground walking. Increased activation was seen in the left and right DLPFC during DTG but did not differ between treadmill and overground walking. Our results support the concept of improved gait efficiency during treadmill walking, indicated by the lack of change in STG and DTG performance and concomitant with a reduction in FPC activation. These findings suggest different neural strategies underpinning treadmill and overground walking, which should be considered when designing gait assessment and rehabilitation interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keller Xin-Yu Chai
- Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Alicia Marie Goodwill
- Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Jessie Siew-Pin Leuk
- Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Wei-Peng Teo
- Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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Lin J, Lu J, Shu Z, Yu N, Han J. An EEG-fNIRS neurovascular coupling analysis method to investigate cognitive-motor interference. Comput Biol Med 2023; 160:106968. [PMID: 37196454 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The simultaneous execution of a motor and cognitive dual task may lead to the deterioration of task performance in one or both tasks due to cognitive-motor interference (CMI). Neuroimaging techniques are promising ways to reveal the underlying neural mechanism of CMI. However, existing studies have only explored CMI from a single neuroimaging modality, which lack built-in validation and comparison of analysis results. This work is aimed to establish an effective analysis framework to comprehensively investigate the CMI by exploring the electrophysiological and hemodynamic activities as well as their neurovascular coupling. METHODS Experiments including an upper limb single motor task, single cognitive task, and cognitive-motor dual task were designed and performed with 16 healthy young participants. Bimodal signals of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were recorded simultaneously during the experiments. A novel bimodal signal analysis framework was proposed to extract the task-related components for EEG and fNIRS signals respectively and analyze their correlation. Indicators including within-class similarity and between-class distance were utilized to validate the effectiveness of the proposed analysis framework compared to the canonical channel-averaged method. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the difference in the behavior and neural correlates between the single and dual tasks. RESULTS Our results revealed that the extra cognitive interference caused divided attention in the dual task, which led to the decreased neurovascular coupling between fNIRS and EEG in all theta, alpha, and beta rhythms. The proposed framework was demonstrated to have a better ability in characterizing the neural patterns than the canonical channel-averaged method with significantly higher within-class similarity and between-class distance indicators. CONCLUSIONS This study proposed a method to investigate CMI by exploring the task-related electrophysiological and hemodynamic activities as well as their neurovascular coupling. Our concurrent EEG-fNIRS study provides new insight into the EEG-fNIRS correlation analysis and novel evidence for the mechanism of neurovascular coupling in the CMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianeng Lin
- College of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Engineering Research Center of Trusted Behavior Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiewei Lu
- College of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Engineering Research Center of Trusted Behavior Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhilin Shu
- College of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Engineering Research Center of Trusted Behavior Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ningbo Yu
- College of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Engineering Research Center of Trusted Behavior Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Jianda Han
- College of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Engineering Research Center of Trusted Behavior Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China.
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Chen Y, Fang W, Guo B, Bao H. The moderation effects of task attributes and mental fatigue on post-interruption task performance in a concurrent multitasking environment. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2022; 102:103764. [PMID: 35390668 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In a concurrent multitasking environment, performing many types of tasks increases task complexity, and working long hours makes a person susceptible to mental fatigue. Emerging technologies may lead to more task interruptions. This study examines the effects of task attributes and mental fatigue on interrupted task performance in a concurrent multitasking environment. Thirty-four participants performed the MATB-Ⅱ under eight conditions (two-level task interruption, two-level task complexity, two-level fatigue). The results revealed the significant interaction effects of interruption × task complexity and of interruption × fatigue state. The findings show that more time is required to return to a complex primary task, and there are differences among subtask types. Mental fatigue negatively affects primary task performance, workload, and the resumption lag after an interruption. The findings are explained by the increasing information cues needed to resume complex tasks and the negative effect of fatigue on memory activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rail Traffic Control and Safety, Beijing Jiaotong University, No. 3 Shang Yuan Cun, Haidian District, 100044, Beijing, China; School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, No. 3 Shang Yuan Cun, Haidian District, 100044, Beijing, China.
| | - Weining Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Rail Traffic Control and Safety, Beijing Jiaotong University, No. 3 Shang Yuan Cun, Haidian District, 100044, Beijing, China.
| | - Beiyuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Rail Traffic Control and Safety, Beijing Jiaotong University, No. 3 Shang Yuan Cun, Haidian District, 100044, Beijing, China.
| | - Haifeng Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Rail Traffic Control and Safety, Beijing Jiaotong University, No. 3 Shang Yuan Cun, Haidian District, 100044, Beijing, China.
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