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Modulation of the postural effects of cognitive load by hypnotizability
Enrica Laura Santarcangelo1, E Scattina, G Carli
1Department of Human Physiology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy. enricals@dfb.unipi.it
Experimental Brain Research
|March 3, 2009
Summary
Cognitive load minimally impacts postural control differently between low and highly hypnotizable individuals. Attentional abilities do not appear to be the primary factor explaining previous hypnotizability-related postural differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Previous research suggests hypnotizability influences postural control, potentially due to attentional differences.
- Cognitive load is known to affect motor control, but its interaction with hypnotizability in postural tasks is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cognitive load differentially affects postural control in low (Lows) versus highly hypnotizable (Highs) subjects.
- To determine if enhanced attentional abilities in highly hypnotizable individuals mediate their postural control under cognitive load.
Main Methods:
- Participants (Highs and Lows) performed postural tasks with eyes closed under basal and cognitive load (mental computation) conditions.
- Postural conditions varied between stable and unstable support.
- Measures included center of pressure (CoP) variability (SD), complexity (SampEn), velocity, area (Area), and length-to-area ratio (LFS).
Main Results:
- Few significant differences in postural control were found between Highs and Lows under cognitive load.
- A reduction in CoP SD was observed in Highs, and an increase in LFS in Lows, specifically under the difficult (unstable support) postural condition.
- These findings suggest attentional abilities are not the main driver of hypnotizability-related postural differences.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive load does not significantly exacerbate postural control deficits in low hypnotizable subjects compared to highly hypnotizable ones.
- Attentional differences linked to hypnotizability do not primarily explain observed postural control variations in sensory altered conditions.
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