Walking changes the dynamics of cognitive estimates of time intervals.
Cognitive performance exhibits patterns of trial-to-trial variation that can be described as 1/f or pink noise, as do repeated measures of locomotor performance. Although cognitive and locomotor performances are known to interact when performed concurrently, it is not known whether concurrent performance affects the tasks' pink noise dynamical structure. In this study, participants performed a cognitive task (repeatedly producing a temporal interval) and a motor task (walking on a treadmill) in single- and dual-task conditions. In single-task conditions both tasks exhibited pink noise structure. For concurrent performance the dynamical structure of the cognitive task changed reliably in the direction of white (random) noise. The dynamical structure of locomotion remained pink noise. The change in cognitive dynamics occurred despite no reliable changes in mean or standard deviation measures for either task. The results suggest a functional reorganization of cognitive dynamics supporting successful task performance in dual-task conditions.
Kiefer
Adam W
AW
Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0376, USA. kieferac@email.uc.edu
Riley
Michael A
MA
Shockley
Kevin
K
Villard
Sebastien
S
Van Orden
Guy C
GC
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D019295:Computational Biology; D056344:Executive Function; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D013998:Time Perception; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult