The interaction between cognition and motor control: A theoretical framework for dual-task interference effects on posture, gait initiation, gait and turning

Abstract

Studies of dual tasks (i.e. situations during which an individual performs two tasks simultaneously) and the subsequent inter-task interference have shown that locomotion and posture involves motor and cognitive components. Dual tasks therefore constitute a promising avenue for improving the diagnosis, prevention and management of falls or cognitive impairment in populations at risk. However, tackling these major public health concerns with dual-task interventions requires a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying dual-task interference. In this context, we review (i) the main dual-task theories proposed to date and (ii) the factors that can influence dual-task interference effects in healthy young individuals and might therefore explain the current lack of consensus on the mechanisms of dual tasks. We also consider cognitive-motor dual tasks in which the motor task is a less frequently studied transition movement (such as gait initiation or turning), rather than only the often-studied gait and posture tasks. In general, the review focuses on the behavioral effects of dual tasking.

Traditional Neuropsychological Testing Does Not Predict Motor-Cognitive Test Performance

“…This means that the ability of athletes to effectively perform fast motor actions under time constraints may not be efficiently predicted with usual testing paradigms. The lack of an association between motor-cognitive and purely motor or cognitive skills could be due to the motor-cognitive interference phenomenon [ 26 ]: If complex movement is combined with the simultaneous engagement in tasks requiring mental resources, performance decreases in one or both can be observed, depending on difficulty and degree of task automatization. For instance, Fait et al [ 27 ] examined the mutual impact of concurrent cognitive and motor activities in elite ice hockey players.…”

Digital Natives and Dual Task: Handling It But Not Immune Against Cognitive-Locomotor Interferences

“…pendular behavior of walk is controlled less efficiently. Both results globally fit into a cognitive-related motor interference model [27], where the dual task has a negative impact on the motor task. The dual task significantly decreases D in both conditions, which is coherent with the optimal variability framework [28]: Physiological signals -SI time series in the present work -show a maximal complexity in healthy participants, and any deviation from healthy state lowers it.…”

TMS bursts can modulate local and networks oscillations during lower-limb movement

“…Movement disorder patients with lower-extremity dysfunctions have shown impaired cognitive control and decreased frontal theta oscillations, and thus show impaired kinematics of lower-limb movement (Singh, et al, 2020). Attention is an important factor when performing lower-limb movements, especially, when walking under dual-task conditions (Bayot, et al, 2018;Li, et al, 2018). Midfrontal theta oscillations could play an underlying role in providing strong cognitive engagement during dual-tasks (Wang, et al, 2018;Singh, et al, 2020), contributing to the sensorimotor integration needed to perform lower-limb motor tasks.…”