Can measures of cognitive function predict locomotor behaviour in complex environments following a traumatic brain injury?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships between clinical measures of executive function and attention, and laboratory measures of anticipatory locomotor adaptations with dual tasks following a TBI.


METHODS
Ten people with moderate or severe TBI were compared to 10 healthy subjects for neuropsychological measures in the clinic, as well as locomotor patterns and reading time in the laboratory for adapted Stroop tasks (Bar and Word) during unobstructed and obstructed walking.


RESULTS
As previously found 1 (Vallee M, McFadyen BJ, Swaine B, Doyon J, Cantin JF, Dumas D. Effects of environmental demands on locomotion after traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation 2006;87:806--813) during the locomotor activities, subjects with TBI walked slower, had higher clearance margins and took longer to read during the Stroop tasks than healthy subjects. In general, subjects with TBI also showed deficits in executive functions and attention. Significant relationships were specifically observed between scores on Trail Making B and clearance margins for subjects with TBI, but not for healthy subjects. Alternatively, significant relationships between clinical scores on Stroop and dual task Stroop reading times were obtained for healthy subjects but not for subjects with TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that measures of executive functioning and attention may be associated to locomotor behaviour in complex environments following a moderate to severe TBI.
Cantin
Jean-François
JF
School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
McFadyen
Bradford J
BJ
Doyon
Julien
J
Swaine
Bonnie
B
Dumas
Denyse
D
Vallée
Marie
M
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis