Cortical activity modulations underlying age-related performance differences during posture-cognition dual tasking.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Limited research exists on the neural basis of dual-tasking performance changes in older adults.
• Aging is associated with declines in cognitive and postural control, particularly under dual-task conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cortical activity (EEG) during single and dual-tasking in elderly individuals.
• To understand age-related modulations in brain activity during posture-cognition dual-tasking.
• To identify neural correlates of performance differences in dual-tasking.

Main Methods:

• Whole-scalp electroencephalography (EEG) was used to monitor cortical activations.
• Participants performed single and dual-task conditions involving cognitive tasks and postural control.
• Behavioral data on cognitive performance and postural stability were collected.

Main Results:

• Elderly individuals exhibited reduced cognitive performance, especially in working memory, across postural conditions.
• Postural control deficits became significant in the elderly only during challenging dual-tasking.
• EEG revealed increased delta, theta, and gamma oscillations during dual-tasking, with specific patterns linked to cognitive load and postural demands.

Conclusions:

• Elderly individuals may employ conscious control strategies, prioritizing postural stability over cognitive function under low cognitive load.
• Delta oscillations are associated with postural challenges, theta with cognitive difficulty, and gamma with attentional allocation to posture in the elderly.