Motor Behavior

Changes of postural sway in narrow-base stance by concurrently performing cognitive task

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 1Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Basic Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Biomechanics Lab., Rehabilitation Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Posture-cognition studies show that postural control is affected by cognitive task. Therefore, the effect of factors such as task difficulty is evaluated in dual-task paradigm but the impact of difficulty of cognitive and postural task on postural control remains inconclusive. The purpose of the present study was to examine the interaction effect of cognitive and postural tasks difficulty on postural control. Twenty healthy young volunteers (Mean age 22 ± 2.3 years) performed six random conditions while standing on a force platform. Conditions involved combinations of two level of postural task difficulty (standing on the floor and narrow base) and three level of cognitive task difficulty (without, easy and difficult cognitive tasks). Two way ANOVA (significant level p < 0.05) results demonstrated marked decrease in the standard deviation of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions for the difficult cognitive task condition in both postural task. (p < 0.05). Also, the easy cognitive task reduced the standard deviation of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior direction in the narrow base standing condition (p < 0.05). According to the results of the present research, it seems that the difficult cognitive task requires a greater part of attention capacity; subsequently, attention is withdrawn from the postural task and automatic control regulates posture more efficiently through unconscious, fast, and reflexive processes. Also, postural control is simultaneously affected by the difficulty of postural and cognitive tasks. Therefore, in designing appropriate interventions, it seems necessary to pay attention to the interactive effects of posture and cognitive tasks.

Keywords

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Motor Behavior
Volume 13, Issue 45
January 2022
Pages 135-158

  • Receive Date 25 April 2021
  • Revise Date 07 July 2021
  • Accept Date 22 August 2021

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