Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Dr. Andrew Johnson
Abstract
Performing two tasks at once (dual-tasking) is a common part of our daily lives, and this practice can impact on individual performance of one (or both) tasks. For example, walking while talking can produce dual-task interference that may alter gait parameters, lead to postural instability and increase one’s risk of falling. The impact of dual-task interference is dependent upon age, as well as other factors specific to the secondary task. The current study employed a dual-task paradigm to examine the impact of task complexity, articulation, task type, and age on gait. Participants were asked to walk a distance of approximately 20 feet while performing working memory tasks. Results suggest that both articulation and task complexity hamper gait performance, and that dual-task interference increases with age. Furthermore, these results indirectly suggest that some of the effects of task complexity may be nullified through the use of auditory cueing. [147 words]
Recommended Citation
Armieri, Albert, "DUAL-TASK PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY YOUNG AND HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS: THE EFFECT OF COGNITIVE SECONDARY TASKS" (2009). Digitized Theses. 3938.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3938
