Abstract
Increased oxygenated hemoglobin concentration of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been observed during linear walking, particularly when there is a high attention demand on the task, like in dual-task (DT) paradigms. Despite the knowledge that cognitive and motor demands depend on the complexity of the motor task, most studies have only focused on usual walking, while little is known for more challenging tasks, such as curved paths. To explore the relationship between cortical activation and gait biomechanics, 20 healthy young adults were asked to perform linear and curvilinear walking trajectories in single-task and DT conditions. PFC activation was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, while gait quality with four inertial measurement units. The Figure-of-8-Walk-Test was adopted as the curvilinear trajectory, with the “Serial 7s” test as concurrent cognitive task. Results show that walking along curvilinear trajectories in DT led to increased PFC activation and decreased motor performance. Under DT walking, the neural correlates of executive function and gait control tend to be modified in response to the cognitive resources imposed by the motor task. Being more representative of real-life situations, this approach to curved walking has the potential to reveal crucial information and to improve people’ s balance, safety, and life’s quality.
Highlights
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy, a non-invasive vascular-based neuroimaging technique [1,2], has revolutionized the field of gait and posture [3,4]. This measurement technique aims to assess cerebral blood flow that should be kept at an adequate level to support brain activity and metabolic demand, and that is maintained through the processes of neurovascular coupling
prefrontal cortex (PFC) cortical activation was assessed through an Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device, while a wearable sensor-based protocol was adopted in order to obtain information about gait patterns
Healthy young adults showed an increased PFC activation while performing curvilinear motor tasks. This activation was even higher if a concurrent cognitive task was executed
Summary
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive vascular-based neuroimaging technique [1,2], has revolutionized the field of gait and posture [3,4]. This measurement technique aims to assess cerebral blood flow that should be kept at an adequate level to support brain activity and metabolic demand, and that is maintained through the processes of neurovascular coupling. The fNIRS relies on this coupling to infer changes in neural activity that are mirrored by the changes in the blood oxygenation in the region of the activated cortical area. Compared to the traditional brain imaging technique (i.e., functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI), in which the evaluation of dynamic tasks is limited due to the fixed lying position, wearable fNIRS allows the assessment of cortical function and a better understanding of motor-cognitive interactions during real-life locomotion [1]
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