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Does articulation contribute to modifications of postural control during dual-task paradigms?
Mylène C Dault1, Lucy Yardley, James S Frank
1Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 410 Laurier Avenue West, 9th Floor, Address Locator 4209A, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. mdault@irsc-cihr.gc.ca
Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research
|April 23, 2003
Summary
Articulating words during mental tasks significantly increases postural sway frequency and path, beyond attentional load. This highlights motor task requirements, not just attention, influencing balance control.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Dual-task methodology is common for studying attentional resources in postural control.
- Previous studies often used verbal responses, potentially confounding results due to respiration changes during speech.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if articulation, not just attention, contributes to postural sway changes during dual-tasking.
- To examine the impact of different postural control measurement types on study outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Twenty healthy young adults stood on a force platform.
- Participants performed secondary tasks that were silent or verbal, and varied in attentional demand.
- Vision and postural task difficulty were manipulated.
Main Results:
- All tasks increased sway frequency and decreased sway amplitude compared to baseline.
- Tasks requiring articulation led to a greater increase in sway frequency and path than non-articulation tasks.
- Findings suggest secondary tasks increase stiffness, while articulation further increases sway frequency and path.
Conclusions:
- Changes in postural sway during dual-tasking are complex and influenced by more than just attentional load.
- Motor requirements of tasks, such as articulation, play a significant role in postural control adjustments.
- Postural sway parameters are not solely attributable to attentional demands but also to task-specific motor outputs.