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Reducing postural sway by concurrently performing challenging cognitive tasks.
1School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 125 University Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
Human Movement Science
|January 23, 2016
Summary
Cognitive load impacts postural control. Increased cognitive demand reduced sway variability, while visual tasks stabilized posture more than auditory tasks, suggesting attentional focus shifts.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Postural control is crucial for stability.
- Cognitive load and sensory input influence motor tasks.
- Understanding these interactions is key for rehabilitation and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of cognitive complexity and sensory modality on postural control in young adults.
- To determine how different cognitive task difficulties affect balance.
- To compare the impact of auditory versus visual cognitive tasks on postural sway.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen young adults stood on a force platform.
- Participants performed cognitive tasks (easy, moderate, difficult) presented visually and auditorily.
- Postural control was assessed using sway variability and confidence ellipse area.
Main Results:
- Increased cognitive demand significantly reduced sway variability and confidence ellipse area.
- Visual tasks decreased ML sway variability more than auditory tasks.
- Auditory tasks led to increased COP irregularity.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive complexity influences postural control by altering sensorimotor integration.
- Attentional focus shifts due to cognitive load play a significant role in postural adjustments.
- Sensory modality (visual vs. auditory) differentially affects postural sway under cognitive load.
