Investigating practice strategies to improve dual-task performance during gait

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At one time gait was primarily thought of as an automatic motor task with little cognitive input, it is only in the last few decades that we have come to realize the impact of cognitive function on locomotor control. Dual-task research paradigms have been designed to elucidate how cognition influences posture, overground walking as well as obstructed walking. The role of cognitive function in locomotor control is no longer questioned and in fact, some researchers have suggested that training for dual-task performance may assist some populations, e.g. older adults at risk of falling. However, while the benefits of practice for motor performance are well established optimal training strategies for concurrent motor and cognitive tasks have yet to be determined. What is an effective practice strategy to improve concurrent performance of a locomotor and cognitive task? Should individuals practice component tasks separately or simultaneously to minimize dual-task interference? Different theoretical perspectives suggest conflicting answers. Unfortunately, the literature on training methods for improving dual-task performance is limited to primarily postural studies or clinical studies that use multiple training tasks designed to reflect functional everyday activities. The proposed research program will explore the most effective practice strategies to improve concurrent performance of a cognitive and locomotor tasks. From a theoretical perspective, examination of single-task and dual-task practice strategies will permit a test of competing theories of attention as they relate to gait. This research program will also investigate the optimal number of practice sessions and duration of practice effects, determine transference of practice approaches to an adaptive gait task (static and dynamic obstacle avoidance) and finally explore novel video-based practice modalities.