Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025
Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
Published on: December 11, 2013
Mental calculation increases physiological postural tremor, but does not influence physiological goal-directed
Francesco Budini1, Richard Mocnik2, Markus Tilp2
1Institute of Human Movement Science, University of Graz, Sport and Health, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Mozartgasse 14/I (Sportwissenschaft), 8010, Graz, Austria. francesco.budini@uni-graz.at.
Purpose:
During a cognitive effort, an increase in cortical electrical activity, functional alterations in the anterior cingulate cortex, and modifications in cortical inputs to the active motor units have been reported. In light of this, an increase in tremor could be anticipated as result of a mental task. In the present work, we tested this hypothesis.
Methods:
In 25 individuals, tremor was measured with a three-axial accelerometer during 300 s of postural and goal-directed tasks performed simultaneously to mental calculation, or during control (same tasks without mental calculation). Hand and finger dexterity were also evaluated. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings from the extensor digitorum communis were collected during the postural task.
Results:
Hand and finger dexterity was negatively affected by the mental task (p = .003 and p = .00005 respectively). During mental calculation, muscle tremor increased in the hand postural (+ 29%, p = .00005) but not in the goal-directed task (- 1.5%, p > .05). The amplitude of the main frequency peak also increased exclusively in the hand postural task (p = .028), whilst no shift in the position of the main frequency peak was observed. EMG was not affected.
Conclusion:
These results support the position of the contribution of a central component in the origin of physiological hand postural tremor. It is suggested that the different effect of mental calculation on hand postural and goal-directed tasks can be attributed to the different origins and characteristics of hand postural and goal-directed physiological tremor.
