Co-ACT&LEARN: Cortical Activation and Cognitive-Motor Learning

Sponsor

East Carolina University (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT04666181

Collaborator

(none)

Enrollment

Location

Arm

10.5

Actual Duration (Months)

1.7

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief 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).

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Dual-task Healthy Adults	Behavioral: Dual-task training	N/A

Detailed 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.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

18 participants

Allocation:

N/A

Intervention Model:

Single Group Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Primary Purpose:

Treatment

Official Title:

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

Actual Study Start Date :

Jan 15, 2021

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Aug 30, 2021

Actual Study Completion Date :

Nov 30, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Dual-task training Dual-task training will consist of balancing on the dynamic stability platform and responding to auditory stimuli. Participants will perform 18 trials total in 3 blocks of 6 trials. Each trial will be 30 seconds (s) in duration followed by 30 s of rest (i.e. quiet standing on the platform while holding onto the rails.) Between each training block, the participant will step off the platform and rest for 2 minutes. Dual-task training will occur on consecutive visits 2-6.	Behavioral: Dual-task training See descriptions under arm description. The dual-task training will occur across a total of 5 consecutive workday visits.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: Dual-task training

Dual-task training will consist of balancing on the dynamic stability platform and responding to auditory stimuli. Participants will perform 18 trials total in 3 blocks of 6 trials. Each trial will be 30 seconds (s) in duration followed by 30 s of rest (i.e. quiet standing on the platform while holding onto the rails.) Between each training block, the participant will step off the platform and rest for 2 minutes. Dual-task training will occur on consecutive visits 2-6.

Behavioral: Dual-task training

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in auditory reaction time task performance [Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks. Shorter reaction time indicates better performance.]
Average amount of time in seconds for a button press in response to an auditory tone
Change in balance task performance [Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks]
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.
Change in dual-task performance [Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks]
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.
Change in Cortical Activation [Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks]
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.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Errors in auditory reaction time task performance [Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks]
Error is a wrong button pressed in response to the auditory tone
Balance variability [Baseline to 10 days, and upto 3 weeks]
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.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy young adults
Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

Individuals with cognitive deficits or communication problems
Individuals with impaired vision
Individuals with balance disorders such as vestibular disorders, etc.
Individuals with known cardiorespiratory dysfunctions
Individuals with presence of lower extremity condition, injury, or surgery within last 3 months which could compromise training
Individuals with history of concussion