An interventional study of Perturbation and Working Memory Task in Balance and Cognitive Load, sponsored by Riphah International University. Recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-04-25.
Sponsored by Riphah International University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
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.
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Exclusion Criteria:
All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plates to check the static balance.
All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plates to check static balance and undergo two different types of cognitive loading
Other: Working Memory Task · Other: Visual and Verbal Fluency Task
All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plate and perturbation is given to check balance recovery.
Other: Perturbation
All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plate and perturbation is given to check balance recovery and undergo two different types of cognitive loading.
Other: Perturbation · Other: Working Memory Task · Other: Visual and Verbal Fluency Task
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.
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).
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).
Centre of Pressure
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.
Time frame: Baseline
Centre of Pressure (2nd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Centre of Pressure (3rd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Centre of Pressure (4rth reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Postural Sway
It is assessed through a force plate when the subject is standing on it.
Time frame: Baseline
Postural Sway (2nd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Postural Sway (3rd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Postural Sway (4rth reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Balance Recovery
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Balance Recovery (2nd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Heart Rate Variability
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.
Time frame: Baseline
Heart Rate Variability (2nd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Heart Rate Variability (3rd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Heart Rate Variability (4rth reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Galvanic Skin Response
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.
Time frame: Baseline
Galvanic Skin Response (2nd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Galvanic Skin Response (3rd reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
Galvanic Skin Response (4rth reading)
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.
Time frame: Periprocedural
NASA Task Load Index
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.
Time frame: after static balance with cognitive loading
NASA Task Load Index (2nd reading)
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.
Time frame: after perturbation with cognitive loading.
Plan to share: No
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Riphah International University