title: The aging brain shows less flexible reallocation of cognitive resources during dual-task walking: A mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) study.
abstract: Aging is associated with reduced abilities to selectively allocate attention across multiple domains. This may be particularly problematic during everyday multitasking situations when cognitively demanding tasks are performed while walking. Due to previous limitations in neuroimaging technology, much remains unknown about the cortical mechanisms underlying resource allocation during locomotion. Here, we utilized an EEG-based mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) technique that integrates high-density event-related potential (ERP) recordings with simultaneously acquired foot-force sensor data to monitor gait patterns and brain activity concurrently. To assess effects of motor load on cognition we evaluated young (N=17; mean age=27.2) and older adults (N=16; mean age=63.9) and compared behavioral and ERP measures associated with performing a Go/No-Go response inhibition task as participants sat stationary or walked on a treadmill. Stride time and variability were also measured during task performance and compared to stride parameters obtained without task performance, thereby assessing effects of cognitive load on gait. Results showed that older, but not young adults' accuracy dropped significantly when performing the inhibitory task while walking. Young adults revealed ERP modulations at relatively early (N2 amplitude reduction) and later (earlier P3 latency) stages within the processing stream as motor load increased while walking. In contrast, older adults' ERP modulations were limited to later processing stages (increased P3 amplitude) of the inhibitory network. The relative delay and attenuation of ERP modulations accompanied by behavioral costs in older participants might indicate an age-associated loss in flexible resource allocation across multiple tasks. Better understanding of the neural underpinnings of these age-related changes may lead to improved strategies to reduce fall risk and enhance mobility in aging.
authors.affiliation: The Sheryl & Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC), Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Van Etten Building - Wing 1C, 1225 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Malcolm
authors.affiliation: The Sheryl & Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC), Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Van Etten Building - Wing 1C, 1225 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; The Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: john.foxe@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Foxe
authors.affiliation: The Sheryl & Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC), Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Van Etten Building - Wing 1C, 1225 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Trinity College Dublin, Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: The Sheryl & Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC), Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Van Etten Building - Wing 1C, 1225 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; The Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. Electronic address: psanctis@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Pierfilippo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive aging; Dual-task design; EEG; Event-related potentials; Gait; Inhibitory control; Mobile brain/body imaging