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Effect of locomotor demands on cognitive processing.
J Cortney Bradford1, Jamie R Lukos2, Antony Passaro3
1Human Research and Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, United States. jessica.c.bradford.civ@mail.mil.
Scientific Reports
|June 27, 2019
Summary
Extracting brain signals during demanding walking tasks is feasible. Loaded walking reduces P300 brain responses, indicating cognitive resources prioritize physical exertion over attention tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Neurophysiology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding brain dynamics during dual cognitive and motor tasks is crucial for human neurophysiology.
- Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) offers a non-invasive method to study brain activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of extracting electrocortical signals during sustained, physically demanding dual-task walking.
- To investigate the impact of physical exertion during walking on the P300 event-related potential.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a visual oddball task during seated and treadmill walking conditions (carrying empty or 40% body weight rucksack).
- Scalp EEG was recorded, and electrocortical dynamics time-locked to target stimuli were analyzed.
- Channel-level and source-level analyses examined event-related potentials and brain activity.
Main Results:
- Reliable electrocortical signals were successfully extracted during long-duration loaded walking.
- P300 amplitude was significantly reduced during loaded walking compared to seated conditions.
- No significant effect of time on task was observed for P300 amplitude.
- Sensorimotor, parietal, and cingulate brain areas contributed to the reduced P300 during dual-task walking.
Conclusions:
- Extracting EEG signals during demanding physical tasks is feasible.
- Cortical resource prioritization for walking reduces cognitive resources available for concurrent tasks.
- This highlights the brain's adaptive strategies during complex dual-task locomotion.
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