How performing a mental arithmetic task modify the regulation of centre of foot pressure displacements during bipedal quiet standing

TL;DR

This study examines how performing mental arithmetic tasks of varying difficulty affects postural control during quiet standing, revealing that difficult tasks decrease COP displacements and increase stiffness, indicating altered balance regulation.

Contribution

It demonstrates that mental arithmetic tasks modulate postural control mechanisms, highlighting the impact of cognitive load on balance regulation during quiet standing.

Findings

Decreased COP displacements during difficult mental tasks.

Increased stiffness associated with higher cognitive load.

Reduced exploratory behaviors in postural control.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of performing a mental arithmetic task with two levels of difficulty on the regulation of centre of foot pressure (COP) displacements during bipedal quiet standing in young healthy individuals. There was also a control condition in which no concurrent task was required. A space-time-domain analysis showed decreased COP displacements, along the antero-posterior axis, when participants concurrently performed the most difficult mental arithmetic task. Frequency-domain and stabilogram-diffusion analyses further suggested these decreased COP displacements to be associated with an increased stiffness and a reduction of the exploratory behaviours in the short term, respectively.