@article{ref1,
title="Increasing cognitive load attenuates right arm swing in healthy human walking",
journal="Royal Society open science",
year="2017",
author="Killeen, Tim and Easthope, Christopher S. and Filli, Linard and Lőrincz, Lilla and Schrafl-Altermatt, Miriam and Brugger, Peter and Linnebank, Michael and Curt, Armin and Zörner, Björn and Bolliger, Marc",
volume="4",
number="1",
pages="e160993-e160993",
abstract="Human arm swing looks and feels highly automated, yet it is increasingly apparent that higher centres, including the cortex, are involved in many aspects of locomotor control. The addition of a cognitive task increases arm swing asymmetry during walking, but the characteristics and mechanism of this asymmetry are unclear. We hypothesized that this effect is lateralized and a Stroop word-colour naming task-primarily involving left hemisphere structures-would reduce right arm swing only. We recorded gait in 83 healthy subjects aged 18-80 walking normally on a treadmill and while performing a congruent and incongruent Stroop task. The primary measure of arm swing asymmetry-an index based on both three-dimensional wrist trajectories in which positive values indicate proportionally smaller movements on the right-increased significantly under dual-task conditions in those aged 40-59 and further still in the over-60s, driven by reduced right arm flexion. Right arm swing attenuation appears to be the norm in humans performing a locomotor-cognitive dual-task, confirming a prominent role of the brain in locomotor behaviour. Women under 60 are surprisingly resistant to this effect, revealing unexpected gender differences atop the hierarchical chain of locomotor control.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2054-5703",
doi="10.1098/rsos.160993",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160993"
}