Effect of Dual Task on Step Variability during Stepping in Place without Vision

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Stepping in place without vision is a spatial orientation task.
• This task is associated with unperceived foot displacements.
• Cognitive load can influence motor control and spatial orientation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if concurrent cognitive tasks affect foot displacement variability during visionless stepping.
• To investigate the impact of cognitive load on spatial orientation and motor control in a dynamic task.

Main Methods:

• Fourteen young adults performed 50 steps in place with vision blocked.
• A continuous mental counting task was concurrently performed (dual-task condition).
• Three-dimensional kinematic data of the heel and big toe were recorded for both feet.

Main Results:

• Foot displacement variability was unchanged or slightly reduced during the dual-task condition.
• Foot displacements were significantly shorter (p < 0.05) in the dual-task condition compared to the single-task condition.
• The concurrent cognitive task did not increase, and may have slightly decreased, the variability of foot movements.

Conclusions:

• Concurrent cognitive tasks may enhance the control of repetitive lower limb movements during visionless stepping.
• Cognitive engagement can lead to more precise and controlled motor execution in spatial orientation tasks.
• Findings suggest a potential benefit of cognitive load in refining motor output for balance and locomotion tasks.