It Takes Two: Dual-Task Imaging Using Two Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) System In Younger And Older Healthy Adults
AKA "The Walking and Talking Study"
What was the study about?
Our brain and behavior change as we age. This study seeks to understand how language, gait, and brain activity during walking-talking experiments differ between younger adults and older adults. The goals of this study were:
1. To help improve methods for measuring brain activity during real-world tasks.
2. To better understand how dual-tasking impacts both cognitive-linguistic function and motor function.
3. To better understand the aging process.
What did this study involve?
- The study included 2 hour-long sessions.
- Participants completed cognitive-linguistic testing in The Aphasia Network lab.
- They then participated in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), a form of non-invasive brain imaging, while completing standing and walking tasks on a treadmill in the Human Movement Research Lab.
Who participated?
- 21 younger adults (ages 18-30)
- 10 older adults (ages 55-75)
- All participants had no history of neurological disease, and were able to safely and comfortably walk on a treadmill for 45 minutes, with breaks.
During the study, participants wore an fNIRS cap to record brain activity while they completed different cognitive tasks. Sticker markers (that appear as white dots in the picture) and a motion capture system were used to obtain gait measures.
The treadmill setup is equipped with a safety harness and a handlebar to ensure participant safety.
Approved by Northeastern IRB, #22-09-03
Funded by the Northeastern University TIER 1 Program
PIs: Erin Meier, Qianqian Fang & Josh Stefanik