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Cognitive-Motor Interference and Cortical Activation While Walking in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.
Michael VanNostrand1, Brittany Belanger2, Gabriel Purin1
1Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT,USA.
Motor Control
|August 13, 2022
Summary
Individuals with multiple sclerosis exhibit significant cognitive-motor interference during dual-tasking. This is linked to an inability to increase prefrontal cortical activation, impacting cognitive performance even in single-task scenarios.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Science
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Dual-tasking challenges cognitive-motor integration.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with cognitive-motor interference.
- Limited research exists on cortical activation during dual-tasking in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical activation during dual-task paradigms in individuals with MS.
- To compare cognitive-motor interference in MS and control groups.
- To examine performance on traditional and ecologically valid dual-task assessments.
Main Methods:
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure cortical activation.
- Participants (15 with MS, 14 controls) performed mobility tests under single- and dual-task conditions.
- Cognitive and mobility performance was assessed.
Main Results:
- Individuals with MS showed significantly worse cognitive performance under both single- and dual-task conditions.
- This poorer performance occurred without increased prefrontal cortical activation in the MS group.
- Cognitive-motor interference was evident in the MS group.
Conclusions:
- Persons with MS may struggle to allocate sufficient cortical resources for cognitive tasks during dual-tasking.
- This suggests a neurobiological basis for cognitive-motor interference in MS.
- The study provides novel insights into dual-tasking challenges in MS using neuroimaging.
