Extensive practice can significantly reduce dual-task costs (i.e., impaired performance under dual-task conditions compared with single-task conditions) and, thus, improve dual-task performance. ...Among others, these practice effects are attributed to an optimization of executive function skills that are necessary for coordinating tasks that overlap in time. In detail, this optimization of dual-task coordination skills is associated with the efficient instantiation of component task information in working memory at the onset of a dual-task trial. In the present paper, we review empirical findings on three critical predictions of this memory hypothesis. These predictions concern (1) the preconditions for the acquisition and transfer of coordination skills due to practice, (2) the role of task complexity and difficulty, and (3) the impact of age-related decline in working memory capacity on dual-task optimization.
Background
It can be challenging to perform a second task at the same time as swallowing.
Objective(s)
The study aimed to investigate the effect of visual, auditory and motor dual‐tasking on ...swallowing and chewing function in healthy young adults.
Method
Right‐handed healthy adults without any psychological and cognitive problems were included in the study. Swallowing was evaluated based on the dysphagia limit in different liquid textures such as water and nectar consistencies, and chewing was evaluated by the Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids. For the second task, visual and auditory performance was assessed using reaction time, and the motor performance was assessed using a bilateral tapping task. Assessments were performed in two steps: baseline and dual‐task. For baseline, all evaluation methods were applied individually. After completing the baseline assessment, dual‐task assessment were carried out the following day. For dual‐task assessment, the swallowing and chewing tasks were performed simultaneously with visual, auditory and motor tasks.
Results
Results showed a significant decrease in dysphagia limit in the nectar consistency, and significant increase in chewing time, visual reaction time and tapping rate (right–left) when compared to baseline and dual‐task conditions (χ2(3) = 9.61, p = .02; χ2(3) = 9.02, p = .02; χ2(3) = 28.09, p < .001; χ2(3) = 28.97, p < .001; χ2(3) = 21.56, p < .001, respectively). However, there were no differences in dysphagia limit in the water and auditory reaction time compared to baseline and dual‐task conditions (χ2(3) = 3.18, p = .36; χ2(3) = 2.56, p = .50, respectively).
Conclusion
Results shedding light on how simultaneous dual tasks can influence swallowing and chewing. Dual‐tasking cause a decrease in both swallowing/chewing and the visual/motor performances. These results may provide valuable information for designing interventions or strategies aimed at improving or maintaining optimal swallowing and chewing during in various populations during daily life.
Both the texture of the food and the involvement of visual, auditory, and motor elements have diverse effects on swallowing/chewing function. These findings offer valuable insights that can guide clinical practice, aiding in the design of functional interventions and personalized strategies for dysphagia rehabilitation.
Numerous studies showed decreased performance in situations that require multiple tasks or actions relative to appropriate control conditions. Because humans often engage in such multitasking ...activities, it is important to understand how multitasking affects performance. In the present article, we argue that research on dual-task interference and sequential task switching has proceeded largely separately using different experimental paradigms and methodology. In our article we aim at organizing this complex set of research in terms of three complementary research perspectives on human multitasking. One perspective refers to structural accounts in terms of cognitive bottlenecks (i.e., critical processing stages). A second perspective refers to cognitive flexibility in terms of the underlying cognitive control processes. A third perspective emphasizes cognitive plasticity in terms of the influence of practice on human multitasking abilities. With our review article we aimed at highlighting the value of an integrative position that goes beyond isolated consideration of a single theoretical research perspective and that broadens the focus from single experimental paradigms (dual task and task switching) to favor instead a view that emphasizes the fundamental similarity of the underlying cognitive mechanisms across multitasking paradigms.
Public Significance Statement
This integrative review organizes the traditionally quite separate research areas of dual-task performance and task switching according to three different research perspectives. These perspectives differ in terms of their focus on cognitive structure, flexibility, and plasticity. With our review article we aimed at highlighting the value of an integrative position that goes beyond isolated consideration of a single theoretical research perspective and that broadens the focus from single experimental paradigms (dual task or task switching) to favor instead a view that emphasizes the fundamental similarity of the underlying cognitive mechanisms across multitasking paradigms.
When two tasks are presented simultaneously or in close succession, such as in the overlapping task paradigm of the psychological refractory period, dual-task performance on those tasks is usually ...impaired compared with separate single-task performance. Numerous theories explain these emerging dual-task costs in terms of the existence of capacity limitations in the constituent component tasks. The current paper proposes active dual-task coordination processes that work on the scheduling of these capacity-limited processes. Further, there are recent findings that point to a meta-cognitive control level in addition to these active coordination processes. This additional level's responsibility is to adjust the dual-task coordination of capacity-limited stages (i.e., coordination adjustment). I review evidence focusing on the existence of dual-task coordination processes and processes of coordination adjustment. The remainder of the paper elaborates on preliminary findings and points to the separability of these sets of processes, which is a key assumption of the framework of dual-task coordination adjustment.
When the performance of two tasks overlaps in time, performance impairments in one or both tasks are common. Various theoretical explanations for how component tasks are controlled in dual-task ...situations have been advanced. However, less attention has been paid to the issue of how two temporally overlapping tasks are appropriately coordinated in terms of their order. The current study focuses on two specific aspects of this task-order coordination: (1) the potential effects of practice on task-order coordination performance and (2) its relationships with cognitive meta-control mechanisms that adjust this coordination. These aspects were investigated in a visual-auditory dual-task combination with randomly changing task orders across trials after four sessions of dual-task practice (N = 24) and single-task practice (N = 24). The results demonstrated that task-order coordination improves during dual-task practice, and in contrast to the effects of single-task practice. Practice, on the other hand, did not show substantial evidence of an effect on the adjustment of task-order coordination. This practice-related dissociation is consistent with the assumption that (1) task-order coordination and (2) its sequential adjustment are separable sets of processes.
Introduction Ice hockey is a high pace sports game that requires players to integrate multiple skills. Players face perceptive, cognitive, and motor tasks concurrently; hence, players are regularly ...exposed to dual- or multi-task demands. Dual-tasking has been shown to lead to decreased performance in one or both performed tasks. The degree of performance reductions might be modulated by the exhaustion of cognitive resources. Literature on dual-task paradigms that combine sport-relevant elements is scarce. Therefore, a novel paradigm combining cyclical speed of the lower extremities and concurrent visuo-verbal speed reading was tested and validated. Additionally, to understand the nature of dual-task costs, the relationship between these costs and cognitive performance was assessed. We hypothesized occurrence of dual-task costs in all athletes without relationship to single task performance. Differences in dual-task cost were expected between open-skill and closed-skill sports, as well as differing expertise levels. Level of cognitive function was expected to explain some variance in dual-task cost. Methods A total of 322 elite athletes (120 ice hockey, 165 other team sports, 37 closed-skill sports) participated in this study. Each athlete performed a tapping task, a visuo-verbal speed-reading task, and both tasks simultaneously. All ice hockey athletes performed additional cognitive tests assessing processing speed, spatial working memory, sustained attention, two choice reaction time, and motor inhibition. Results The results of paired-sample t-tests confirmed significant dual-task costs for all sport groups ( p < 0.001). Single-task performance and dual-task costs correlated weakly in a positive direction. A one-way ANOVA revealed significantly greater costs in closed-skill sports athletes than in ice hockey and other sports athletes. No significant differences in dual-task costs were found between teams of differing expertise levels. Lastly, no significant regression model was found to predict dual-task costs from cognitive test performance. Discussion Our study suggests that this novel dual-task paradigm was successful in inducing dual-task costs for all elite athletes. Since it distinguishes between closed-skill and open-skill sports athletes, it might be a valuable diagnostic tool for performance and for talent development of open-skill athletes. Dual-task costs could not be relevantly predicted via cognitive performance measures, questioning cognitive resource theories as an explanation for dual-task costs.
Until recently, clinicians and researchers have performed gait assessments and cognitive assessments separately when evaluating older adults, but increasing evidence from clinical practice, ...epidemiological studies, and clinical trials shows that gait and cognition are interrelated in older adults. Quantifiable alterations in gait in older adults are associated with falls, dementia, and disability. At the same time, emerging evidence indicates that early disturbances in cognitive processes such as attention, executive function, and working memory are associated with slower gait and gait instability during single‐ and dual‐task testing and that these cognitive disturbances assist in the prediction of future mobility loss, falls, and progression to dementia. This article reviews the importance of the interrelationship between gait and cognition in aging and presents evidence that gait assessments can provide a window into the understanding of cognitive function and dysfunction and fall risk in older people in clinical practice. To this end, the benefits of dual‐task gait assessments (e.g., walking while performing an attention‐demanding task) as a marker of fall risk are summarized. A potential complementary approach for reducing the risk of falls by improving certain aspects of cognition through nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments is also presented. Untangling the relationship between early gait disturbances and early cognitive changes may be helpful in identifying older adults at risk of experiencing mobility decline, falls, and progression to dementia.
Introduction
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was associated with cognitive alterations affecting everyday life activities. These need input integration of both motor and cognitive systems. The study ...aim is to evaluate cognitive-motor interference phenomenon in previously independent patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (PwMCOVID-19) compared with healthy controls (HC), through dual-task (DT) paradigm.
Methods
PwMCOVID-19 were included if being independent at home, had no previous referred cognitive impairment, mechanical ventilation or oxygen need. They were assessed at admission and after 6 months with a motor-cognitive DT test (counting backward by twos while walking 2 min). HC were enrolled as control group. Differences between single-task (ST) and DT performance, DT effect (DTE) and task prioritization amongst groups and during time points were analyzed.
Results
One-hundred PwMCOVID-19 mean age=67.32(12.08) years; 53 M/47 F and 39 HC mean age=63.11(9.90) years; 20 M/19 F were recruited. Upon
T
0, PwMCOVID-19 showed lower cognitive and motor DT performances than ST and HC. Mutual interference pattern was predominant in PwMCOVID-19. At
T
1, 41 PwMCOVID-19 were examined mean age=64.85(10.75); 22 M/19 F. They had a worse DT performance compared to ST, although DT improved at
T
1. A stronger cognitive ST-DT difference was present at
T
0, compared to ST-DT difference at
T
1, while motor ST-DT difference was unchanged over time in PwCOVID-19.
Conclusion
In PwMCOVID-19, there is an impairment of DT counting while walking at baseline and after 6 months from hospitalization, with a more pronounced DT mutual interference pattern at
T
0. After 6 months, the motor and cognitive ST and DT performances ameliorated, not reaching the HC level.
Objectives
To provide an overview of the role of cognition in falls, with potential implications for managing and preventing falls in older adults.
Design
Review.
Setting
Observational and ...interventional studies addressing the role of cognition on falls.
Participants
Community‐dwelling older adults (65 years and older).
Measurements
The relationship between gait and cognition in aging and neurodegeneration was reviewed in the medical literature to highlight the role of brain motor control deficits in fall risk. The benefits of dual‐task gait assessments as a marker of fall risk were reviewed. Therapeutic approaches for reducing falls by improving certain aspects of cognition were appraised.
Results
Low performance in attention and executive function are associated with gait slowing, instability, and future falls. Drug‐enhancement of cognition may reduce falls in Parkinson's disease, and cognitive training, dual‐task training, and virtual reality modalities are promising to improve mobility in sedentary older adults and in those with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Conclusion
Falls remain common in older people, with higher prevalence and morbidity in those who are cognitively impaired. Disentangling the mechanism and contribution of cognitive deficits in fall risk may open new treatment approaches. Mounting evidence supports that cognitive therapies help reduce falls.
Objective To determine whether dual-task interference during upper limb tasks is increased in patients after stroke compared to healthy older subjects and to compare magnitude of stroke-induced ...change in interference to that explained by aging. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar and PEDro databases up to October 2023 for studies on upper limb dual-tasks in stroke and elderly healthy subjects. Eleven upper limb dual-task studies in stroke patients and 11 studies in healthy older subjects were identified and systematically reviewed. A meta-analysis was performed on seven stroke studies and on five studies in healthy older subjects that included control groups. Results Most stroke studies investigated proximal arm movements with kinematic measures, but few studies evaluated manual dexterity. In contrast, studies in healthy older subjects used more distal (finger tapping) tasks. The meta-analysis showed that stroke patients had on average a 19% (CI 95% = 1.0–37.3) increase in dual-task interference compared to age-matched healthy controls ( Z = 2.06, p = 0.04). Older healthy subjects showed greater dual-task interference compared to younger subjects (19% greater, CI 95% = 6.5–31.2, Z = 2.98, p = 0.003). Conclusion Meta-analysis revealed an increase in dual-task interference during upper limb movements in stroke patients, exceeding age-related changes, supporting the presence of subclinical impairments in divided attention post-stroke that may impede motor recovery.
PDF
