TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of instructions on postural-suprapostural interactions in three working memory tasks
AU - Burcal, Christopher J.
AU - Drabik, Evan C.
AU - Wikstrom, Erik A.
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank Patrick O. McKeon for his help with developing the MatLab code used to calculate the Time-to-Boundary outcomes. This research was supported through a Research Grant from the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainer’s Association . The study sponsor had no role in the study design, analysis/interpretation of data, or assistance in manuscript preparation.
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Examining postural control while simultaneously performing a cognitive, or suprapostural task, has shown a fairly consistent trend of improving postural control in young healthy adults and provides insight into postural control mechanisms used in everyday life. However, the role of attention driven by explicit verbal instructions while dual-tasking is less understood. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to determine the effects of explicit verbal instructions on the postural-suprapostural interactions among various domains of working memory. A total of 22 healthy young adults with a heterogeneous history of ankle sprains volunteered to participate (age: 22.2 ± 5.1 years; n= 10 history of ankle sprains, n= 12 no history). Participants were asked to perform single-limb balance trials while performing three suprapostural tasks: backwards counting, random number generation, and the manikin test. In addition, each suprapostural task was completed under three conditions of instruction: no instructions, focus on the postural control task, focus on the suprapostural task. The results indicate a significant effect of instructions on postural control outcomes, with postural performance improving in the presence of instructions across all three cognitive tasks which each stress different aspects of working memory. Further, postural-suprapostural interactions appear to be related to the direction or focus of an individual's attention as instructions to focus on the suprapostural task resulted in the greatest postural control improvements. Thus, attention driven by explicit verbal instructions influence postural-suprapostural interactions as measured by a temporal-spatial postural control outcome, time-to-boundary, regardless of the suprapostural task performed.
AB - Examining postural control while simultaneously performing a cognitive, or suprapostural task, has shown a fairly consistent trend of improving postural control in young healthy adults and provides insight into postural control mechanisms used in everyday life. However, the role of attention driven by explicit verbal instructions while dual-tasking is less understood. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to determine the effects of explicit verbal instructions on the postural-suprapostural interactions among various domains of working memory. A total of 22 healthy young adults with a heterogeneous history of ankle sprains volunteered to participate (age: 22.2 ± 5.1 years; n= 10 history of ankle sprains, n= 12 no history). Participants were asked to perform single-limb balance trials while performing three suprapostural tasks: backwards counting, random number generation, and the manikin test. In addition, each suprapostural task was completed under three conditions of instruction: no instructions, focus on the postural control task, focus on the suprapostural task. The results indicate a significant effect of instructions on postural control outcomes, with postural performance improving in the presence of instructions across all three cognitive tasks which each stress different aspects of working memory. Further, postural-suprapostural interactions appear to be related to the direction or focus of an individual's attention as instructions to focus on the suprapostural task resulted in the greatest postural control improvements. Thus, attention driven by explicit verbal instructions influence postural-suprapostural interactions as measured by a temporal-spatial postural control outcome, time-to-boundary, regardless of the suprapostural task performed.
KW - Dual-task interference
KW - Instructions
KW - Postural control
KW - Time to boundary
KW - Working memory
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U2 - 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.04.203
DO - 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.04.203
M3 - Article
C2 - 24835836
AN - SCOPUS:84902374173
SN - 0966-6362
VL - 40
SP - 310
EP - 314
JO - Gait and Posture
JF - Gait and Posture
IS - 2
ER -