Objective: A dual-task study was performed to explore the performance effects for swimming, word recall, and the combination of the two tasks performed simultaneously. Background: Dual-task interference studies have been performed for a variety of tasks; however, there has not been much dual-task interference research where one of the tasks is a naturalistic physically strenuous task. Swimming is a unique physical task that requires spatial orientation on three dimensional axes, similar to that of flying, but has no risk of falling. Previous studies have been conducted in other activity combinations with word-free recall, such as running and climbing, but swimming has yet to be explored. Method: A verbal memory recall task and swimming task were performed in isolated (single-task) and simultaneous conditions. A comparison of effects across these different activities was also explored. Results: Swimming and the word-recall task resulted in significant dual-task interference: almost as much as when word recall was paired with another verbal task, but more than running and less than climbing. Conclusion: Consistent with other dual-task studies, this study observed dual-task interference between the physical swimming task and the cognitive verbal memory task. Application: Future technologies and training for personnel who engage in water rescue or commercial diving, such as underwater welding and fiber optic cable, may be improved by these findings.

Dual-task interference studies have been performed using a variety of different tasks, however, there has been limited research examining dual-tasks interference where one of the tasks is an ecologically realistic physically demanding task. Swimming is a task that involves three spatial axes, similar to flying, but is also physically demanding for the entire body as all four limbs are used to propel the swimmer through the water. A dual-task case study was conducted to compare repeated performance in a swimming task, a verbal free recall task and a dual-task where swimming and free recall were combined. While previous research has examined running and climbing when combined with the verbal free recall task, these studies were one-off studies, whereas the present study was conducted longitudinally with repeated sessions. The current study was performed in a single individual across several weeks to investigate the longitudinal change of dual-task interference.

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