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NCT Number: NCT06941714

Cognitive Load Effects on Balance and Postural Stability in Young Adults

* The aim is to determine the impact of cognitive load on balance recovery mechanisms following perturbations in young adults. * To evaluate how secondary task is influenced by cognitive load and vice versa. * To compare the impact of cognitive load on balance recovery mechanisms following perturbations in male and female young adults. * This study interrelates the cognitive load, postural stability, balance recovery in the result of perturbation and effects on participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Balance Cognitive Load

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Riphah International University

Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Imran Amjad

CONTACT

[email protected]

03324390125

About this study

Maintaining balance is an important skill that requires coordination and is crucial for human beings. The Central Nervous System (CNS) plays an important role in maintaining balance, postural stability, and postural correction in response to sudden perturbation. The subcortical brain region contributes to balance maintenance and postural stability is regulated by the cerebral cortex. Balance is defined as the "Body's ability to keep its center of gravity within the base of support either standing or walking". On a regular basis people encounter perturbations (traveling on a bus while standing) that challenge balance, to overcome unexpected perturbations there must be activation of postural muscles to maintain the center of gravity within the base of support and prevent fall. Individuals mostly use ankle strategy or hip strategy to recover from perturbation and prevent fall. Anticipatory postural adjustment is a critical component of postural stability. recently cognition and postural control have received attention, there are studies that claim that dual-task design has been used to show the relation between posture and cognitive functioning. In the dual-task paradigm two tasks are performed simultaneously to divert the attention of an individual to an external source (counting backward etc.) while performing another task. Divided attention is commonly required in daily life while performing dual tasking and multitasking activities, if attention is not properly divided among task it will results in decline in performance which causes impairment of balance and fall.To prevent this, balance must be recovered from perturbation. The purpose is to assess effect of cognitive loading and recovery from perturbations along with balance maintenance and fulfillment of research gap that study should be performed with multiple methods of cognitive loading. That's why different methods for cognitive loading are used in current study which shows that how varying levels of cognitive load influence postural stability and balance in dual-task conditions. This research can help in rehabilitation programs in which specific interventional designs and treatment protocols are made to improve balance under the influence of cognitive load. Provide awareness to people on a societal level to improve their balance and posture maintenance under a mental workload.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants between age of 18 to 30 (university Students)
  • Sufficient physical function to stand independently.
  • Self-reported independent ambulation.
  • Participant willingness to participate.

Exclusion criteria

  • History of neurological or vestibular disorders.
  • Self-reported presence of musculoskeletal condition.
  • Disorders of spine, pelvic girdle and lower limb.

Treatment and study plan

Perturbation

Other

Jack is attached to force plates and it is used to give perturbation when participants are standing on force platform. Balance is assessed after perturbation and readings will be taken through HRV and GSR.

Working Memory Task

Other

Arithmetic test (Backward counting with serial 3 subtraction and articulation): participants are asked to count out loud backward with serial subtraction of 3 from each number, starting with a random number provided by the researcher. while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Visual and Verbal Fluency Task

Other

Modified Stroop test or Stroop color word test: Participants are asked to name the color of ink that each word is printed. The test will appear on screen while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Primary outcomes

  1. Centre of Pressure

    Time frame: Baseline

    Force plates are used to measure data quantitatively and analyze postural stability through the displacement of COP from forces and moments. A force platform is used in conditions when the force platform is not moving (static posturography) and when the force platform is moving (dynamic posturography). It has the capability of measuring ground reaction forces in three directions and the moment of force. Each of the platforms was connected to a dedicated computer with relevant software and valid controllers.

  2. Centre of Pressure (2nd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Force plates are used to measure data quantitatively and analyze postural stability through the displacement of COP from forces and moments. A force platform is used in conditions when the force platform is not moving (static posturography) and when the force platform is moving (dynamic posturography). It has the capability of measuring ground reaction forces in three directions and the moment of force. Each of the platforms was connected to a dedicated computer with relevant software and valid controllers.

    2nd reading will be taken to measure static balance along with cognitive loading.

  3. Centre of Pressure (3rd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Force plates are used to measure data quantitatively and analyze postural stability through the displacement of COP from forces and moments. A force platform is used in conditions when the force platform is not moving (static posturography) and when the force platform is moving (dynamic posturography). It has the capability of measuring ground reaction forces in three directions and the moment of force. Each of the platforms was connected to a dedicated computer with relevant software and valid controllers.

    3rd reading will be taken at the time of perturbation without cognitive loading.

  4. Centre of Pressure (4rth reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Force plates are used to measure data quantitatively and analyze postural stability through the displacement of COP from forces and moments. A force platform is used in conditions when the force platform is not moving (static posturography) and when the force platform is moving (dynamic posturography). It has the capability of measuring ground reaction forces in three directions and the moment of force. Each of the platforms was connected to a dedicated computer with relevant software and valid controllers.

    4rth reading will be taken at the time of perturbation along with cognitive loading.

  5. Postural Sway

    Time frame: Baseline

    It is assessed through a force plate when the subject is standing on it.

  6. Postural Sway (2nd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    It is assessed through a force plate when the subject is standing on it. 2nd reading will be taken to measure static balance along with cognitive loading.

  7. Postural Sway (3rd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    It is assessed through a force plate when the subject is standing on it. 3rd reading will be taken at the time of perturbation without cognitive loading.

  8. Postural Sway (4rth reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    It is assessed through a force plate when the subject is standing on it. 4rth reading will be taken at the time of perturbation along with cognitive loading.

  9. Balance Recovery

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Jack is attached to force plates, and it is used to give a perturbation when the participant is standing on the force platform, and balance is assessed after the participant recovers from the perturbation. 1st reading will be taken to measure static balance without cognitive loading.

  10. Balance Recovery (2nd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Jack is attached to force plates, and it is used to give a perturbation when the participant is standing on the force platform, and balance is assessed after the participant recovers from the perturbation. 2nd reading will be taken to measure static balance along with cognitive loading.

  11. Heart Rate Variability

    Time frame: Baseline

    Heart Rate Variability is a beat-to-beat fluctuation in normal sinus rhythm, and it arises due to variation between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is measured by using ECG signals. There is a positive association between HRV indices and cognitive performance.

  12. Heart Rate Variability (2nd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Heart Rate Variability is a beat-to-beat fluctuation in normal sinus rhythm, and it arises due to variation between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is measured by using ECG signals. There is a positive association between HRV indices and cognitive performance. 2nd reading will be taken to measure static balance along with cognitive loading.

  13. Heart Rate Variability (3rd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Heart Rate Variability is a beat-to-beat fluctuation in normal sinus rhythm, and it arises due to variation between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is measured by using ECG signals. There is a positive association between HRV indices and cognitive performance. 3rd reading will be taken at the time of perturbation without cognitive loading.

  14. Heart Rate Variability (4rth reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Heart Rate Variability is a beat-to-beat fluctuation in normal sinus rhythm, and it arises due to variation between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is measured by using ECG signals. There is a positive association between HRV indices and cognitive performance. 4rth reading will be taken at the time of perturbation along with cognitive loading.

  15. Galvanic Skin Response

    Time frame: Baseline

    Galvanic Skin Response is used in many psychophysiological studies. A change in the electrical property of skin is known as the galvanic skin response. GSR signals are used to capture autonomic nerve responses as a parameter of sweat gland function. There is a direct relation between GSR reading and cognitive loading.

  16. Galvanic Skin Response (2nd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Galvanic Skin Response is used in many psychophysiological studies. A change in the electrical property of skin is known as the galvanic skin response. GSR signals are used to capture autonomic nerve responses as a parameter of sweat gland function. There is a direct relation between GSR reading and cognitive loading. 2nd reading will be taken to measure static balance along with cognitive loading.

  17. Galvanic Skin Response (3rd reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Galvanic Skin Response is used in many psychophysiological studies. A change in the electrical property of skin is known as the galvanic skin response. GSR signals are used to capture autonomic nerve responses as a parameter of sweat gland function. There is a direct relation between GSR reading and cognitive loading. 3rd reading will be taken at the time of perturbation without cognitive loading.

  18. Galvanic Skin Response (4rth reading)

    Time frame: Periprocedural

    Galvanic Skin Response is used in many psychophysiological studies. A change in the electrical property of skin is known as the galvanic skin response. GSR signals are used to capture autonomic nerve responses as a parameter of sweat gland function. There is a direct relation between GSR reading and cognitive loading. 4rth reading will be taken at the time of perturbation along with cognitive loading.

  19. NASA Task Load Index

    Time frame: after static balance with cognitive loading

    The different dimensions of task load, including mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort and frustration, will be measured subjectively using the NASA Task Load Index(TLX). Low ratings will typically indicate an increased cognitive load. 1st reading will be taken after measuring static balance along with cognitive loading.

  20. NASA Task Load Index (2nd reading)

    Time frame: after perturbation with cognitive loading.

    The different dimensions of task load, including mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort and frustration, will be measured subjectively using the NASA Task Load Index(TLX). Low ratings will typically indicate an increased cognitive load. 2nd reading will be taken after perturbation with cognitive loading.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

IMRAN AMJAD

CONTACT

[email protected]

03324390125

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating the Effects of Cognitive Load on Postural Stability and Balance Recovery Mechanisms in Younger Adults

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Apr 24, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 25, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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