Neurophysiological Differences Between Women With Fibromyalgia and Healthy Controls During Dual Task: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background Women with FM have a reduced ability to perform two simultaneous tasks. However, the impact of dual task (DT) on the neurophysiological response of women with FM has not been studied. Objective To explore both the neurophysiological response and physical performance of women with FM and healthy controls while performing a DT (motor–cognitive). Design Cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 17 women with FM and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (1:1 ratio) were recruited. The electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded while participants performed two simultaneous tasks: a motor (30 seconds arm-curl test) and a cognitive (remembering three unrelated words). Theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), and beta (13–30) frequency bands were analyzed by using EEGLAB. Results Significant differences were obtained in the healthy control group between single task (ST) and DT in the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands ( p -value < 0.05). Neurophysiological differences between ST and DT were not found in women with FM. In addition, between-group differences were found in the alpha and beta frequency bands between healthy and FM groups, with lower values of beta and alpha in the FM group. Therefore, significant group ∗ condition interactions were detected in the alpha and beta frequency bands. Regarding physical condition performance, between groups, analyses showed that women with FM obtained significantly worse results in the arm curl test than healthy controls, in both ST and DT. Conclusion Women with FM showed the same electrical brain activity pattern during ST and DT conditions, whereas healthy controls seem to adapt their brain activity to task commitment. This is the first study that investigates the neurophysiological response of women with FM while simultaneously performing a motor and a cognitive task.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Brain Electrical Activity, Heart Rate Variability, and Dual-Task Performance in Healthy and Fibromyalgia Women: A Study Protocol

“…Results of these studies have shown that tDCS could help to reduce cognitive–motor interference during DT performance [ 27 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 97 ]. It is important to highlight that a greater impact on brain activity has been observed in women with FM during DT compared to healthy controls [ 98 ]. However, it is still unknown whether the application of tDCS in PFC could reduce the difference in electric brain activation during dual-task conditions between women with FM and healthy controls.…”

“…Thus, we expected that after tDCS in the DLPFC in people with FM, alpha and beta power increased. This would be relevant since a previous study showed that during DT conditions women with FM exhibited lower alpha and beta power compared to healthy controls [ 98 ].…”

Emotional and Attentional Bias in Fibromyalgia: A Pilot ERP Study of the Dot-Probe Task

“…Behavioral results may be insufficient to assess attentional bias in people with FM, and previous studies have identified significant neural differences between individuals with FM and healthy participants. For instance, a recent study found that female patients with FM showed the same electrical brain activity pattern during single task and dual task conditions, whereas healthy controls seemed to adapt their brain activity to task commitment [ 45 ]. In this sense, pain-related stimuli may be used in dual-task conditions, as they seem to interfere with the detection of probes.…”

Impact of being physically active on the brain electrocortical activity, brain volumetry and performance in the Stroop color and word test in women with fibromyalgia

“…Since attentional resources are limited, different stimuli compete with each other for attentional space. In this regard, previous studies have shown that people with FM showed lower dual-task performance (motor-cognitive) than healthy controls 35 , 36 . However, Martín‐Martínez et al 37 showed that 24-weeks of exergame intervention improved dual-task performance.…”