Cortical Activity During Postural Recovery Under Dual-task Conditions: A Quantitative EEG Study
Ehsan Sinaei1,2, Mohammad Nami3, Zahra Saadat4,5
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, United States.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Older adults show increased brain activity in sensorimotor areas during dual-task balance challenges. This suggests compensatory neural strategies are used to maintain postural control, unlike younger adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Postural control declines with age, increasing fall risk.
- Dual-tasking (DT) exacerbates postural instability in older adults.
- Cortical involvement in postural adjustments is not fully understood across age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate age-related differences in cortical activity during postural adjustments.
- Compare brain responses under single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) conditions.
- Identify neural mechanisms underlying age-related changes in balance control.
Main Methods:
- Recruited young (24.25±3.15 yrs) and older (65.55±4.67 yrs) adults.
- Used unpredictable 3% body weight load release to perturb posture.
- Recorded quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) from 32 channels during ST and DT (backward counting) conditions.
Main Results:
- Older adults showed higher alpha power in sensorimotor areas (C4, Pz) during DT.
- Age group x condition interactions revealed greater beta power in frontal/central regions (F4, C4) in older adults under DT.
- Older adults exhibited significantly greater beta power during DT compared to younger individuals.
Conclusions:
- Older adults utilize enhanced cortical resources for postural recovery, especially under cognitive load.
- Increased alpha and beta power indicate compensatory cortical strategies due to age-related declines in automatic control.
- Findings inform fall prevention strategies targeting cognitive and motor functions in aging populations.
