Cortical Activation and Cognitive-Motor Learning

Healthy Adults Clinical Trial

— Co-ACT&LEARN  

Official title:

Effects of Dual-Task Training on Cognitive and Motor Learning and Cortical Activation in Healthy Young Adults

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04666181
• Other study ID #: 20-001938
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 15, 2021
• Est. completion date: November 30, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: January 2022
• Source: East Carolina University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this research study is to assess the effects of dual-task training using a dynamic balance task and an auditory reaction time task on dual-task performance in healthy young adults and to assess the cortical activity within the prefrontal and sensorimotor cortices in response to dual-task training using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Description:

The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of a dual-task (combined motor-cognitive task) on dual-task performance of a complex dynamic stability task in healthy young adults and to assess the effects of dual-task training on cognitive-motor learning and cortical activation in healthy young adults. A dual-task is defined as concurrent performance of two tasks, usually a cognitive and motor task, that can be performed independently and have distinct and separate goals. Individuals engage in dual tasks every day and must allocate attentional resources to each task. While recognition of susceptibility to performance decrements in dual-task settings may be difficult, increased dual-task complexity is associated with decreased performance in one or both tasks. The well documented effects of dual-task practice represent a promising approach to improve dual-task performance for clinical populations such as individuals with neurological conditions or older individuals, in which complex multitask situations can increase fall risk due to hindered balance and walking performance. Similarly, young adults have demonstrated performance decrements while executing a dual-task that involved a combined balance and cognitive task. Research of dual-task training in healthy young cohort has indicated significant improvements in both motor and cognitive task performance in dual-task situations, suggesting the efficiency of this intervention strategy. However, most of these studies have investigated effects of a simple postural task combined with cognitive task training on dual-task performance. Effects of dual-task training using a complex dynamic postural stability task on dual-task performance of such complex task is lacking. Moreover, existing studies demonstrate conflicting evidence of dual-task training effects among healthy young adults since improvements in the motor task only have been largely reported. It is crucial to understand dual-task training effects on performance of a complex cognitive-motor task since postural control involves complex integration of somatosensory, vestibular, and visual systems. Our experimental paradigm will challenge these systems; thus, findings of this study would inform our intervention strategies in a variety of populations ranging from athletes to individuals with neurological conditions.

Dynamic postural stability is an integral aspect of postural control and it involves complex interaction of prefrontal, somatosensory, vestibular, and visual systems. However, a motor task involving complex interaction of these systems combined with cognitive task challenges has not been investigated thoroughly. Moreover, neural activation within these cortical areas during dual-task performance and effects of dual-task training are largely unknown.

Since, coordinated control of the body requires integration of all these systems (i.e. prefrontal, somatosensory, vestibular, and visual), it is important to systemically study the interference of an additional attention-demanding task, such as an auditory stimulus reaction time task on interaction of these systems that may contribute to decreased postural stability. Moreover, it is important to investigate if training on such a complex dual-task can reduce motor-cognitive interference, improve postural stability, and optimize cortical activation in complex dual-task conditions.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 18
• Est. completion date: November 30, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: August 30, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy young adults

2. Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals with cognitive deficits or communication problems

2. Individuals with impaired vision

3. Individuals with balance disorders such as vestibular disorders, etc.

4. Individuals with known cardiorespiratory dysfunctions

5. Individuals with presence of lower extremity condition, injury, or surgery within last 3 months which could compromise training

6. Individuals with history of concussion

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Dual-task
• Healthy Adults

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Dual-task training
See descriptions under arm description. The dual-task training will occur across a total of 5 consecutive workday visits.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	East Carolina University	Greenville	North Carolina

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
East Carolina University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (6)

Beauchet O, Dubost V, Herrmann FR, Kressig RW. Stride-to-stride variability while backward counting among healthy young adults. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2005 Aug 11;2:26. — View Citation

Fraser SA, Li KZ, Berryman N, Desjardins-Crépeau L, Lussier M, Vadaga K, Lehr L, Minh Vu TT, Bosquet L, Bherer L. Does Combined Physical and Cognitive Training Improve Dual-Task Balance and Gait Outcomes in Sedentary Older Adults? Front Hum Neurosci. 2017 Jan 18;10:688. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00688. eCollection 2016. — View Citation

Ghai S, Ghai I, Effenberg AO. Effects of dual tasks and dual-task training on postural stability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Interv Aging. 2017 Mar 23;12:557-577. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S125201. eCollection 2017. Review. — View Citation

Kiss R, Brueckner D, Muehlbauer T. Effects of Single Compared to Dual Task Practice on Learning a Dynamic Balance Task in Young Adults. Front Psychol. 2018 Mar 12;9:311. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00311. eCollection 2018. — View Citation

Pinti P, Tachtsidis I, Hamilton A, Hirsch J, Aichelburg C, Gilbert S, Burgess PW. The present and future use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for cognitive neuroscience. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2020 Mar;1464(1):5-29. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13948. Epub 2018 Aug 7. Review. — View Citation

Techayusukcharoen R, Iida S, Aoki C. Observing brain function via functional near-infrared spectroscopy during cognitive program training (dual task) in young people. J Phys Ther Sci. 2019 Jul;31(7):550-555. doi: 10.1589/jpts.31.550. Epub 2019 Jul 9. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in auditory reaction time task performance	Average amount of time in seconds for a button press in response to an auditory tone	Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks. Shorter reaction time indicates better performance.
Primary	Change in balance task performance	The average amount of time in seconds that a participant maintains the stability platform within 3 degrees of horizontal position during 6 trials of 30 sec each. The total score will range between 0-30 s. Higher balance score indicates better balance performance.	Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks
Primary	Change in dual-task performance	Dual-task performance will assess performance on the combined auditory reaction time task and the balance task, i.e. performance under influence of dual-task situation.	Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks
Primary	Change in Cortical Activation	The amount of change in cortical activity (change in oxyhemoglobin concentration in umol) within the prefrontal and sensorimotor cortices in response to dual-task training.	Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks
Secondary	Errors in auditory reaction time task performance	Error is a wrong button pressed in response to the auditory tone	Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks
Secondary	Balance variability	The average amount of time in seconds on the left and right side of the dynamic stability platform outside of 3 degrees in the center during 6 trials of 30 seconds each. Smaller time on the right and left side indicates improvement in variability.	Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks