Effects of Conflict-Induced Cognitive Load on Reactive Turning Strategies and Postural Control Timing

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Neuroscience
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Reactive turning is crucial for dynamic balance, demanding significant cognitive and motor resources.
• Increased cognitive load can negatively affect motor performance and alter turning behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of cognitive load and cue timing on reactive turning strategies.
• To examine how these factors affect postural control timing during reactive turns.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen healthy adults performed 90° reactive turns (contralateral and ipsilateral) during walking.
• Participants completed a flanker task to manipulate cognitive load under varied cue timings and conflict conditions.
• Turning strategies and temporal parameters were analyzed using linear mixed models.

Main Results:

• Cognitive conflict significantly delayed temporal parameters (e.g., rotation, deceleration times) of reactive turning.
• These temporal delays persisted even after accounting for changes in turning strategy.
• Turning strategy selection was mainly influenced by cue timing, not cognitive conflict.
• Under temporal constraints, contralateral turns adopted a more stable strategy, while ipsilateral turns used a less stable one.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive load modulates the temporal coordination of postural control during reactive turning.
• Turning strategy selection remains largely unaffected by cognitive conflict.
• Understanding these modulations is key for optimizing interventions for balance and mobility.