Effect of Additional Cognitive Loading on Spatiotemporal Parameters of Walking in Women of Different Age Groups

Using the computerized GAITRite system, we investigated spatial and temporal parameters of walking in 15-year-old girls, elder (16- to 20-year-old) girls, and 21- to 43-year-old women. These parameters, measured under normal conditions and upon performance of an additional cognitive task (loud pronouncing of names of animals known to the participant), were compared. In all age groups, spatial parameters of walking measured in the presence of cognitive loading underwent no significant alterations, while practically all time parameters demonstrated statistically significant modifications. Durations of the phases of walking increased, while the rate of stepping and velocity of walking decreased. It is concluded that, under conditions of moderate cognitive loading, the parameters of activity of the neuronal locomotor generator (in our tests, generator of walking) undergo a relatively simple modifications, namely “expansion” (elongation) of the time scale with minimum changes in the amplitude parameters. Within the examined general age interval, these modifications showed nearly no dependence on the age of the tested women (or such dependence was minimum).