Effects of divided attention on movement-related cortical potential in community-dwelling elderly adults: A preliminary study
Daisuke Hirano,
Misaki Wada,
Naotoshi Kimura,
Daisuke Jinnai,
Yoshinobu Goto,
Takamichi Taniguchi
Affiliations
Daisuke Hirano
Graduate School of Health and Welfare Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-1-26 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, 107-8402, Japan; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan; Corresponding author. Occupational Therapist (OTR), PhD Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan.
Misaki Wada
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan
Naotoshi Kimura
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences at Narita, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-3 Kozunomori, Narita, Chiba, 286-8686, Japan
Daisuke Jinnai
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara, Tochigi, 324-8501, Japan
Yoshinobu Goto
Graduate School of Health and Welfare Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-1-26 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, 107-8402, Japan; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-3 Kozunomori, Narita, Chiba, 286-8686, Japan; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, 137-1 Enokizu, Okawa, Fukuoka, 831-8501, Japan
Takamichi Taniguchi
Graduate School of Health and Welfare Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-1-26 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, 107-8402, Japan; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences at Narita, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-3 Kozunomori, Narita, Chiba, 286-8686, Japan
Dual-tasking is defined as performing two or more tasks concurrently. This study aimed to investigate the effect of divided attention on movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) during dual-task performance in 11 community-dwelling elderly individuals while the load of the secondary task was altered. MRCP was recorded during a single task (ST), simple dual task (S-DT), and complex dual task (C-DT) as no-, low-, and high-load divided attention tasks, respectively. The ST involved self-paced tapping with an extended right index finger. In the S-DT and C-DT, the subjects simultaneously performed the ST and a visual number counting task with different levels of load. The coefficient of variation of movement frequency was significantly more variable in the C-DT than in the ST. The MRCP amplitude from electroencephalography electrode C3, contralateral to the moving hand, was significantly higher in the C-DT than in the ST. Higher attention diversion led to a significant reduction in MRCP amplitude in the participants. These results suggest that attention division in dual-task situations plays an important role in movement preparation and execution. We propose that MRCP can serve as a marker for screening the ability of older individuals to perform dual-tasks.
