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An outdoor dual-task study on cognitive-motor interference during exoskeleton-assisted walking.
Norman Riedel1, Giorgos Marinou2, Katja Mombaur3,4
1Institute of Human and Industrial Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 1, 2025
Summary
Using powered lower-limb exoskeletons requires significant cognitive resources, impacting attention and performance. Short-term use can reduce workload but doesn't fully restore cognitive function, highlighting the need for cognitive fit assessment.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human-robot interaction
- Cognitive neuroscience
Background:
- Powered lower-limb exoskeletons can increase cognitive load due to mechanical constraints.
- Understanding cognitive-motor interference is crucial for safe exoskeleton use.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate cognitive-motor interferences during exoskeleton-assisted walking.
- Examine short-term familiarization effects on cognitive and motor performance.
- Assess the cognitive demands of exoskeleton use in a real-world setting.
Main Methods:
- Dual-task paradigm with serial subtraction task.
- Outdoor walking experiment with 20 healthy adults using a powered lower-limb exoskeleton.
- Comparison of exoskeleton-assisted walking, unassisted walking, and seated control conditions.
Main Results:
- Exoskeleton use led to increased gait velocity and reduced stride time variability, suggesting attention externalization.
- Cognitive performance declined during exoskeleton use, indicating a 'posture-first' strategy.
- Short-term familiarization reduced perceived workload and improved cognitive performance, but it remained below control levels.
Conclusions:
- Exoskeleton-assisted walking demands significant attentional resources.
- A 'posture-first' strategy is employed, prioritizing walking over cognitive tasks.
- Evaluating the cognitive fit of exoskeletons is essential for safe human-exoskeleton interaction.
