Effects of trying ‘not to move’ instruction on cortical load and concurrent cognitive performance

Abstract

Motor and cognitive tasks often interfere when performed concurrently. The amount of interference typically scales with difficulty of the tasks involved. Thus, supposedly 'easy' motor tasks with restricted movement amplitude, like sitting on a chair, should show little or no interference with cognitive tasks at all. We measured the processing load induced by different postural tasks and their effect on cognitive performance under cognitive-motor dual-task conditions. Sixteen subjects performed postural motor tasks in three different positions: 'Lying in a sun lounger', 'Sitting on a bike saddle', and 'Upright on feet'. In each position, three different movement instructions were given; 'Stay stock-still', 'Relax', 'Move easily'. Each combination of position and instruction was performed as single task but also in a dual-task condition with a concurrent calculation task. Brain activity in the right prefrontal cortex was monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The instruction to 'Stay stock-still' produced higher cortical loads in single-task conditions for all positions compared to all other instructions. The calculation task induced additional brain activity in the same prefrontal area as the motor task. Calculation performance tended to be reduced in the 'Lying'-'Stay stock-still' condition. We discuss the relevance of these findings for learning scenarios in school.

No sex difference in an everyday multitasking paradigm

“…Due to the lack of empirical findings on behavioral sex differences in multitasking, it is not surprising that even less is known about their potential neuronal mechanisms. It is fairly established that serial multitasking draws especially on the rostral prefrontal cortex as evidenced by lesion studies (Dreher, Koechlin, Tierney, & Grafman, 2008; Roca et al 2011; Burgess, Veitch, de Lacy Costello, & Shallice, 2000) or functional near-infrared spectroscopy (Langhanns & Müller, 2018). Concurrent multitasking has been linked to areas within the prefrontal cortex, but also parietal, temporal, occipital and cingulate areas in a training study with healthy individuals (Takeuchi et al 2014).…”

Regulating distance to the screen while engaging in difficult tasks

“…High cognitive demand was reflected by large variance of the set point of the position (e.g., center of pressure) and the actual value of the position. However, a recent study revealed that maintaining a seated posture while performing a cognitive task caused the largest decrements in the cognitive task -compared to relaxed lying and slight movement (Langhanns & Müller, 2018). In a study with children (Igarashi et al, 2016), maintaining the seated posture was degraded when accompanied by a concurrent demanding cognitive task.…”

“…Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that the control and regulation of simple postural tasks such as still sitting require attention. Langhanns and Müller (2018) reported the largest decrements in the cognitive task, while concurrently performing still sitting compared to relaxed lying and slight movement. Igarashi et al (2016) observed the detrimental effect of the regulation of postural control while children concurrently performing difficult cognitive tasks.…”

“…Employing dual-task paradigms, previous research has provided evidence that posture control is associated with cognitive processing (Chen et al, 2018;Chong et al, 2010;Kerr et al, 1985;Lajoie et al, 1993;Langhanns & Müller, 2018;Patel & Bhatt, 2015;Stelmach et al, 1990;Woollacott & VanderVelde, 2008). According to the Multiple Resource Theory (Wickens, 2002), when the cognitive task is demanding, fewer attentional resources can be allocated to postural control, leading to degraded performance in postural control.…”

Cognitive-Motor Interference in Neurodegenerative Disease: A Narrative Review and Implications for Clinical Management

“…The amount of interference one task has on another scales with the complexity and novelty of the tasks involved. For example, Langhanns and Müller (2017) demonstrated that an instruction to “stay stock-still” during a calculation task required more cortical processing than performing the same cognitive task while sitting or lying down at rest. The explicit instruction to restrict all movement, although not motorically complex, increased the novelty of the sitting task and, therefore, required more cognitive effort for the participants.…”