Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
07:52
Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen
Published on: October 5, 2020
4.0K
Gray matter volume covariance networks associated with dual-task cost during walking-while-talking
Susmit Tripathi1, Joe Verghese1,2, Helena M Blumen1,2
1Departments of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Human Brain Mapping
|January 22, 2019
Summary
Normal pace walking speed and dual-task costs during walking-while-talking are supported by distinct brain networks in older adults. These networks correlate with different cognitive functions, highlighting unique neural underpinnings for mobility and cognitive performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Normal pace walking (NPW) speed and dual-task costs (DTCs) during walking-while-talking (WWT) are crucial indicators of mobility and cognitive function in older adults.
- Understanding the neural basis of these measures is essential for developing targeted interventions to maintain independence and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the gray matter volume covariance networks associated with NPW speed and DTC during WWT in older adults without dementia.
- To explore the relationship between these identified networks and specific cognitive domains.
Main Methods:
- A multivariate covariance-based analytic approach was used to analyze gray matter volume in 139 older adults.
- Participants underwent assessments for NPW speed and DTC during a WWT task, a validated mobility stress test.
- Cognitive function was evaluated using tests for processing speed, executive function, and episodic memory.
Main Results:
- A distinct gray matter network, including the supplementary motor area, precuneus cortex, and middle frontal gyrus, was associated with NPW speed.
- This NPW network correlated with better processing speed and executive function.
- A separate network, comprising medial prefrontal, cingulate, and thalamic regions, was linked to DTC.
- The DTC network was associated with enhanced episodic memory performance.
Conclusions:
- Normal pace walking speed and dual-task costs during challenging mobility tasks are underpinned by different neural networks in the aging brain.
- The findings suggest distinct neuroanatomical substrates for gait speed and the cognitive load associated with dual-task walking.
- These distinct networks are associated with different cognitive domains, emphasizing the complex interplay between motor and cognitive functions in older adults.
Related Concept Videos
02:49Classifying Matter by State
103.2K
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is all around us; the air, water, soil, mountains, even our bodies are all examples of matter. Matter is divided into three states — solid, liquid, and gas — that are commonly found on earth. The fourth state of matter, plasma, occurs naturally in the interiors of stars.
103.2K
01:17Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking
983
Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
983
03:35Classifying Matter by Composition
90.3K
Matter: Pure Substances and Mixtures
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
90.3K
02:57Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
166.3K
The characteristics that enable us to distinguish one substance from another are called properties.
166.3K
02:59The Atomic Theory of Matter
127.9K
The earliest recorded discussion of the basic structure of matter comes from ancient Greek philosophers. Leucippus and Democritus argued that all matter was composed of small, finite particles that they called atomos, meaning “indivisible.” Later, Aristotle and others came to the conclusion that matter consisted of various combinations of the four “elements” — fire, earth, air, and water — and could be infinitely divided. Interestingly, these philosophers...
127.9K
01:13What is Matter?
16.6K
The substance of the universe—from a grain of sand to a star—is called matter. Scientists define matter as anything that occupies space and has mass. An object’s mass and its weight are related concepts, but not quite the same. An object’s mass is the amount of matter contained in the object and is the same whether that object is on Earth or in the zero-gravity environment of outer space. An object’s weight, on the other hand, is its mass as affected by the pull of...
16.6K