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Does attention switching between multiple tasks affect gait stability and task performance differently between
Daniel Thomson1, Amitabh Gupta2, Matthew Liston3,2
1School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia. d.thomson@westernsydney.edu.au.
Experimental Brain Research
|October 7, 2020
Summary
Attention switching during walking impacts gait stability differently in younger and older adults. Younger adults prioritize gait by reducing stability, while older adults maintain stability but at the cost of task performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Dual-tasking impacts gait stability and secondary task performance due to attention sharing.
- Attention switching between multiple secondary tasks can further degrade performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of attention switching on gait stability and task performance in healthy younger and older adults.
Main Methods:
- Ten younger and ten older adults performed treadmill walking under three conditions: baseline, non-switching secondary task, and switching secondary task.
- Gait parameters (margin of stability, step width, step length) and secondary task performance (response time, accuracy) were measured.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibited slower response times and more errors during attention switching compared to younger adults.
- Younger adults reduced their margin of stability (MoSML) and step width during the switching task.
- Older adults showed no significant changes in MoSML between non-switching and switching tasks.
Conclusions:
- Attention switching influences gait stability and task prioritization strategies differently across age groups.
- Younger adults may prioritize secondary task performance by compromising gait stability, while older adults prioritize stability over task performance.
