Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls
Background. On the assumption that motor actions result from the interaction between cognitive, perceptual, and neurological mechanisms, neuromotor dysfunction–such as in children with Down Syndrome (DS)–is expected to affect the central coordination processes required for dual-task (DT) performance...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/191 |
| _version_ | 1797481721862553600 |
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| author | Benjamin Holfelder Thomas Jürgen Klotzbier Nadja Schott |
| author_facet | Benjamin Holfelder Thomas Jürgen Klotzbier Nadja Schott |
| author_sort | Benjamin Holfelder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. On the assumption that motor actions result from the interaction between cognitive, perceptual, and neurological mechanisms, neuromotor dysfunction–such as in children with Down Syndrome (DS)–is expected to affect the central coordination processes required for dual-task (DT) performance. There are few dual-task (DT) studies in individuals with DS, so the current study examined the effects of dual-tasking (DT) on walking performance in children with DS. Method. In this study, a motor-cognitive DT was used in 12 children with DS (10.5 ± 1.08 years, 6 female), 12 typically developed (TD) children with the same mental age (TD-MA: 5.98 ± 1.21 years, 6 female), and 12 with the same chronological age (TD-CA: 10.5 ± 1.07 years, 6 female). Children were asked to enumerate animals for one minute while walking straight ahead. Results. All groups showed lower performances under the DT condition than the single-task (ST) condition. Children with DS appear to have the most difficulties in motor and cognitive tasks and ST- and DT-conditions. Concerning the DT costs (DTC), difficulties were mainly observed with the motor task, with motor DTC being greater than cognitive DTC. Conclusion. The interplay of different systems seems to play a crucial role in walking, especially in children with DS. DT walking paradigms with directional changes are recommended for future studies, as this is more appropriate for the everyday demands of children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cab53b2ee006421993cd4d314e71b605 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-cab53b2ee006421993cd4d314e71b6052023-11-23T19:19:00ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-02-019219110.3390/children9020191Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy ControlsBenjamin Holfelder0Thomas Jürgen Klotzbier1Nadja Schott2Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Institute of Sport Psychology and Movement Performance, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Sport and Exercise Science, Institute of Sport Psychology and Movement Performance, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Sport and Exercise Science, Institute of Sport Psychology and Movement Performance, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, GermanyBackground. On the assumption that motor actions result from the interaction between cognitive, perceptual, and neurological mechanisms, neuromotor dysfunction–such as in children with Down Syndrome (DS)–is expected to affect the central coordination processes required for dual-task (DT) performance. There are few dual-task (DT) studies in individuals with DS, so the current study examined the effects of dual-tasking (DT) on walking performance in children with DS. Method. In this study, a motor-cognitive DT was used in 12 children with DS (10.5 ± 1.08 years, 6 female), 12 typically developed (TD) children with the same mental age (TD-MA: 5.98 ± 1.21 years, 6 female), and 12 with the same chronological age (TD-CA: 10.5 ± 1.07 years, 6 female). Children were asked to enumerate animals for one minute while walking straight ahead. Results. All groups showed lower performances under the DT condition than the single-task (ST) condition. Children with DS appear to have the most difficulties in motor and cognitive tasks and ST- and DT-conditions. Concerning the DT costs (DTC), difficulties were mainly observed with the motor task, with motor DTC being greater than cognitive DTC. Conclusion. The interplay of different systems seems to play a crucial role in walking, especially in children with DS. DT walking paradigms with directional changes are recommended for future studies, as this is more appropriate for the everyday demands of children.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/191intellectual disabilityexecutive functionmotor-cognitive interferencedual-task walkingverbal fluency |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Holfelder Thomas Jürgen Klotzbier Nadja Schott Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls Children intellectual disability executive function motor-cognitive interference dual-task walking verbal fluency |
| title | Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls |
| title_full | Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls |
| title_fullStr | Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls |
| title_short | Dual-Task Interference in Children with Down Syndrome and Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Healthy Controls |
| title_sort | dual task interference in children with down syndrome and chronological and mental age matched healthy controls |
| topic | intellectual disability executive function motor-cognitive interference dual-task walking verbal fluency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/2/191 |
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