Postural control and cognitive task performance in healthy participants while balancing on different support-surface configurations

Gait Posture. 2001 Dec;14(3):248-55. doi: 10.1016/s0966-6362(01)00130-8.

Abstract

Postural control during normal upright stance in humans is a well-learned task. Hence, it has often been argued that it requires very little attention. However, many studies have recently shown that postural control is modified when a cognitive task is executed simultaneously especially in the elderly and in the presence of pathology. This study examined postural control modifications when a cognitive task of varying difficulty levels is added. Postural stance difficulty was also varied. Results from this study suggest that a generalized capacity interference may occur due to the larger interference found with the addition of a cognitive task in the more novel and difficult postural task. Because the performance of the cognitive task was tapered by a speed-difficulty trade-off, it was not possible to determine whether a change in the level of difficulty of the cognitive task occurred and if it would produce larger dual-task interference.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention*
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Postural Balance*
  • Task Performance and Analysis*