INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 04 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 12:00 pm - 01:15 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging \| Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation \| Teleneuropsychology/Technology Final Abstract #58 Does Direction Matter When Walking Under Single- and Dual-Task Conditions? A Preliminary Examination Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Rini Kaplan, Boston University, Boston, United States Courtney Aul, Boston University, Boston, United States Jaimie Girnis, Boston University, Boston, United States Nishaat Mukadam, Boston University, Boston, United States Meryem Yucel, Boston University, Boston, United States Terry Ellis, Boston University, Boston, United States Alice Cronin-Golomb, Boston University, Boston, United States Category: Neuroimaging Keyword 1: cognitive neuroscience Keyword 2: laterality Keyword 3: neuroimaging: functional Objective: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging method that provides an indirect measure of brain activation via task-related relative changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO). In our previous work, participants walked counterclockwise on an oval-shaped overground track, and we found lateralization of brain activity during dual-task conditions where the right hemisphere was more active with faster walking speeds, and the left hemisphere was less active with faster cognitive task performance. The question is whether this lateralization was associated with directionality of walking. In this exploratory study, we used fNIRS to measure brain activity as participants walked in clockwise and counterclockwise directions on the same oval-shaped overground track to determine if there was an effect of walking direction on brain lateralization. Participants and Methods: Five healthy young adults [mean age= 24.4 (SD=3.2 years); 4 female; all right-handed] engaged in overground walking at a self-selected comfortable speed on a 24.5 meter oval-shaped track in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Participants engaged in single-task walking and dual-task serial-3 subtraction+walking (8 trials/condition: 20 seconds standing rest, 30 seconds task). Performance on the cognitive task was quantified as the number of correct/incorrect subtractions, self-corrected errors, and percent accuracy over the 8 trials. Walking speed (m/sec) was recorded. fNIRS data were collected on a system consisting of 16 sources, 15 detectors, and 8 short-separation detectors in the following regions of interest (ROIs): right and left lateral frontal (RLF, LLF), right and left medial frontal (RMF, LMF), right and left superior frontal (RSF, LSF), and right and left supplementary motor (RSM, LSM). Lateral and medial refer to ROIs’ relative positions on the prefrontal cortex. fNIRS data were analyzed in Homer3. Spearman correlations were conducted between the cognitive/speed variables and ROI HbO data. Results: There were no significant correlations during single-task walking under either the clockwise or counterclockwise condition. During clockwise dual-task walking, there was a significant positive correlation between number of incorrect subtractions and HbO in LLF [r(5)=.97, p<.01], and number of self-corrected errors and HbO in LSF [r (5)=.89, p<.05]. Also during clockwise dual-task walking, there was a significant negative correlation between walking speed and HbO in RSF [r(5)=-.90, p<.05] and LSM [r(5)=-.90, p<.05], and percent accuracy and HbO in LLF [r(5)=-.97, p<.01]. During counterclockwise dual-task walking, there was a significant negative correlation between walking speed and HbO in LSM [r(5)=-.90, p<.05]. Conclusions: During dual-task clockwise walking, the activity in the left hemisphere was inversely related to cognitive performance (e.g., more active with worse performance) and in both hemispheres, there was more activity with faster walking speeds. During dual-task counterclockwise walking, only the left hemisphere was more active with faster walking speed, and there was no relation with cognitive performance in either hemisphere. These preliminary results suggest that there may be an effect of turning direction on the relation between brain activity and the cognitive and motor components of dual-task walking. Data from a larger sample are needed.

Poster

02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology

Final Abstract #58

Does Direction Matter When Walking Under Single- and Dual-Task Conditions? A Preliminary Examination Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Rini Kaplan, Boston University, Boston, United States
Courtney Aul, Boston University, Boston, United States
Jaimie Girnis, Boston University, Boston, United States
Nishaat Mukadam, Boston University, Boston, United States
Meryem Yucel, Boston University, Boston, United States
Terry Ellis, Boston University, Boston, United States
Alice Cronin-Golomb, Boston University, Boston, United States

Category: Neuroimaging

Keyword 1: cognitive neuroscience
Keyword 2: laterality
Keyword 3: neuroimaging: functional

Objective:

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging method that provides an indirect measure of brain activation via task-related relative changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO). In our previous work, participants walked counterclockwise on an oval-shaped overground track, and we found lateralization of brain activity during dual-task conditions where the right hemisphere was more active with faster walking speeds, and the left hemisphere was less active with faster cognitive task performance. The question is whether this lateralization was associated with directionality of walking. In this exploratory study, we used fNIRS to measure brain activity as participants walked in clockwise and counterclockwise directions on the same oval-shaped overground track to determine if there was an effect of walking direction on brain lateralization.

Participants and Methods:

Five healthy young adults [mean age= 24.4 (SD=3.2 years); 4 female; all right-handed] engaged in overground walking at a self-selected comfortable speed on a 24.5 meter oval-shaped track in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Participants engaged in single-task walking and dual-task serial-3 subtraction+walking (8 trials/condition: 20 seconds standing rest, 30 seconds task). Performance on the cognitive task was quantified as the number of correct/incorrect subtractions, self-corrected errors, and percent accuracy over the 8 trials. Walking speed (m/sec) was recorded. fNIRS data were collected on a system consisting of 16 sources, 15 detectors, and 8 short-separation detectors in the following regions of interest (ROIs): right and left lateral frontal (RLF, LLF), right and left medial frontal (RMF, LMF), right and left superior frontal (RSF, LSF), and right and left supplementary motor (RSM, LSM). Lateral and medial refer to ROIs’ relative positions on the prefrontal cortex. fNIRS data were analyzed in Homer3. Spearman correlations were conducted between the cognitive/speed variables and ROI HbO data.

Results:

There were no significant correlations during single-task walking under either the clockwise or counterclockwise condition. During clockwise dual-task walking, there was a significant positive correlation between number of incorrect subtractions and HbO in LLF [r(5)=.97, p<.01], and number of self-corrected errors and HbO in LSF [r (5)=.89, p<.05]. Also during clockwise dual-task walking, there was a significant negative correlation between walking speed and HbO in RSF [r(5)=-.90, p<.05] and LSM [r(5)=-.90, p<.05], and percent accuracy and HbO in LLF [r(5)=-.97, p<.01]. During counterclockwise dual-task walking, there was a significant negative correlation between walking speed and HbO in LSM [r(5)=-.90, p<.05].

Conclusions:

During dual-task clockwise walking, the activity in the left hemisphere was inversely related to cognitive performance (e.g., more active with worse performance) and in both hemispheres, there was more activity with faster walking speeds. During dual-task counterclockwise walking, only the left hemisphere was more active with faster walking speed, and there was no relation with cognitive performance in either hemisphere. These preliminary results suggest that there may be an effect of turning direction on the relation between brain activity and the cognitive and motor components of dual-task walking. Data from a larger sample are needed.