City Research Online

Abstract

Introduction
Cognitive-motor interference is the decrease in cognitive performance and/or physical performance occurring when a cognitive task and a physical task are performed concurrently (dual task) compared to when they are performed in isolation (single task). The aim of this study was to investigate the construct validity and test–retest reliability of two cognitive-motor interference tests in military contexts.

Materials and Methods
Twenty-two soldiers, officers, and cadets performed a 10-min loaded marching, a 10-min Psychomotor Vigilance Task, and the two tasks combined (visit 1). During visit 2, a 5-min running time trial, a 5-min Word Recall Task, and the two tasks combined. These tests were repeated by 20 participants after 2 weeks (visits 3 and 4).

Results
Significant impairments were shown on both running distance (P < .001) and number of words recalled (P = .004) in the dual-task condition compared to the single-task condition. Significantly shorter step length (P < .001) and higher step frequency (P < .001) were found during the loaded marching in the dual-task condition compared to the single-task condition. No significant differences were observed in mean reaction time (P = .402) and number of lapses (P = .479) during the Psychomotor Vigilance Task. Good-to-excellent reliability was found for all the cognitive and physical variables in both single- and dual-task conditions, except for the number of lapses.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that the Running + Word Recall Task test is a valid and reliable dual-tasking test that could be used to assess cognitive-motor interference in military contexts.

Publication Type:	Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry U Military Science
Departments:	School of Science & Technology School of Science & Technology > Engineering
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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