Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study

Executive functions (EFs) are neurocognitive processes planning and regulating daily life actions. Performance of two simultaneous tasks, requiring the same cognitive resources, lead to a cognitive fatigue. Several studies investigated cognitive-motor task and the interference during walking, highli...

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Main Authors: Pasquale Arpaia, Renato Cuocolo, Allegra Fullin, Ludovica Gargiulo, Francesca Mancino, Nicola Moccaldi, Ersilia Vallefuoco, Paolo De Blasiis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2024-01-01
Series:IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10411910/
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author Pasquale Arpaia
Renato Cuocolo
Allegra Fullin
Ludovica Gargiulo
Francesca Mancino
Nicola Moccaldi
Ersilia Vallefuoco
Paolo De Blasiis
author_facet Pasquale Arpaia
Renato Cuocolo
Allegra Fullin
Ludovica Gargiulo
Francesca Mancino
Nicola Moccaldi
Ersilia Vallefuoco
Paolo De Blasiis
author_sort Pasquale Arpaia
collection DOAJ
description Executive functions (EFs) are neurocognitive processes planning and regulating daily life actions. Performance of two simultaneous tasks, requiring the same cognitive resources, lead to a cognitive fatigue. Several studies investigated cognitive-motor task and the interference during walking, highlighting an increasing risk of falls especially in elderly and people with neurological diseases. A few studies instrumentally explored relationship between activation-no-activation of two EFs (working memory and inhibition) and spatial-temporal gait parameters. Aim of our study was to detect activation of inhibition and working memory during progressive difficulty levels of cognitive tasks and spontaneous walking using, respectively, wireless electroencephalography (EEG) and 3D-gait analysis. Thirteen healthy subjects were recruited. Two cognitive tasks were performed, activating inhibition (Go-NoGo) and working memory (N-back). EEG features (absolute and relative power in different bands) and kinematic parameters (7 spatial-temporal ones and Gait Variable Score for 9 range of motion of lower limbs) were analyzed. A significant decrease of stride length and an increase of external-rotation of foot progression were found during dual task with Go-NoGo. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the relative power in the delta band at channels Fz, C4 and progressive difficulty levels of Go-NoGo (activating inhibition) during walking, whereas working memory showed no correlation. This study reinforces the hypothesis of the prevalent involvement of inhibition with respect to working memory during dual task walking and reveals specific kinematic adaptations. The foundations for EEG-based monitoring of cognitive processes involved in gait are laid. Clinical and Translational Impact Statement: Clinical and instrumental evaluation and training of executive functions (as inhibition), during cognitive-motor task, could be useful for rehabilitation treatment of gait disorder in elderly and people with neurological disease.
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spelling doaj-art-d3bee2ff2ca448e2bab56bbbf7dd40012025-08-20T02:56:47ZengIEEEIEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine2168-23722024-01-011226827810.1109/JTEHM.2024.335728710411910Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility StudyPasquale Arpaia0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5192-5922Renato Cuocolo1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1452-1574Allegra Fullin2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1517-8069Ludovica Gargiulo3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3305-2515Francesca Mancino4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5024-8117Nicola Moccaldi5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1035-5740Ersilia Vallefuoco6Paolo De Blasiis7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1317-7994Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, ItalyDepartment of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Caserta, ItalyExecutive functions (EFs) are neurocognitive processes planning and regulating daily life actions. Performance of two simultaneous tasks, requiring the same cognitive resources, lead to a cognitive fatigue. Several studies investigated cognitive-motor task and the interference during walking, highlighting an increasing risk of falls especially in elderly and people with neurological diseases. A few studies instrumentally explored relationship between activation-no-activation of two EFs (working memory and inhibition) and spatial-temporal gait parameters. Aim of our study was to detect activation of inhibition and working memory during progressive difficulty levels of cognitive tasks and spontaneous walking using, respectively, wireless electroencephalography (EEG) and 3D-gait analysis. Thirteen healthy subjects were recruited. Two cognitive tasks were performed, activating inhibition (Go-NoGo) and working memory (N-back). EEG features (absolute and relative power in different bands) and kinematic parameters (7 spatial-temporal ones and Gait Variable Score for 9 range of motion of lower limbs) were analyzed. A significant decrease of stride length and an increase of external-rotation of foot progression were found during dual task with Go-NoGo. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the relative power in the delta band at channels Fz, C4 and progressive difficulty levels of Go-NoGo (activating inhibition) during walking, whereas working memory showed no correlation. This study reinforces the hypothesis of the prevalent involvement of inhibition with respect to working memory during dual task walking and reveals specific kinematic adaptations. The foundations for EEG-based monitoring of cognitive processes involved in gait are laid. Clinical and Translational Impact Statement: Clinical and instrumental evaluation and training of executive functions (as inhibition), during cognitive-motor task, could be useful for rehabilitation treatment of gait disorder in elderly and people with neurological disease.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10411910/Gait analysisworking memoryinhibitionEEGdual task
spellingShingle Pasquale Arpaia
Renato Cuocolo
Allegra Fullin
Ludovica Gargiulo
Francesca Mancino
Nicola Moccaldi
Ersilia Vallefuoco
Paolo De Blasiis
Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study
IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine
Gait analysis
working memory
inhibition
EEG
dual task
title Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study
title_full Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study
title_fullStr Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study
title_full_unstemmed Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study
title_short Executive Functions Assessment Based on Wireless EEG and 3D Gait Analysis During Dual-Task: A Feasibility Study
title_sort executive functions assessment based on wireless eeg and 3d gait analysis during dual task a feasibility study
topic Gait analysis
working memory
inhibition
EEG
dual task
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10411910/
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