Abstract
Purpose
To determine the effect of cognitive–motor dual-task load on temporal structure irregularity (complexity) of motor output and task performance of submaximal isometric contractions.
Methods
Twelve young, sedentary subjects performed handgrip isometric contractions until failure at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction under mathematical self-regulated dual-task (own pace; SDT), regulated dual-task (imposed pace; RDT), and control. Force signal complexity was calculated by sample entropy at the initial, middle, and final thirds. Task performance was assessed by muscle fatigue (time to failure and rate of median frequency of the radial flexor of the carpus), force and math task error, and self-perceived difficulty.
Results
Only RDT decreased complexity with respect to control (17.4% ± 12.6%, p = 0.005), all conditions decreased complexity by the final third (Control: 52.8% ± 18.7%, p < 0.001; SDT: 41.1% ± 32.1%, p = 0.003; RDT: 19.1% ± 21.9%, p = 0.035). Conditions did not affect time to failure, and only RDT decreased the rate of median frequency (0.1%/s ± 0.1%/s, p = 0.020). Inferior force error rate was increased by conditions (SDT: 1.5% ± 0.8%, p < 0.001; RDT: 2% ± 1.5%, p = 0.002). Math error was only augmented by RDT (from 9.9 ± 6.7 to 51.7 ± 18.8, p < 0.001), categorized as “very hard” in 85.7% of participants (p = 0.015).
Conclusion
Only the RDT condition reduced complexity and neuromuscular fatigue while increasing force error rate of the handgrip’s motor output, without affecting time to failure. A highly demanding dual-task may become a strategy to modify the organization of the hand force motor output, which may contribute to its motor adaptations.
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Abbreviations
- sEMG:
-
Surface electromyography
- CMDT:
-
Cognitive motor dual-task
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- RDT:
-
Regulated dual-task
- RMS:
-
Root mean square
- SampEn:
-
Sample entropy
- SDT:
-
Self-regulated dual-task
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We thank the subjects for their willingness to participate in this study.
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CCM, BGG, JC, and CBB conceived and designed the research. BGG and CBB conducted the experiments. CCM, XGM, CT, JTE, and BGG analysed the data. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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BGG, CBB, JC, CT, JTE, XGM, and CCM have nothing to declare.
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Communicated by Toshio Moritani .
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Guzmán-González, B., Bustos-Briones, C., Calatayud, J. et al. Effects of dual-task demands on the complexity and task performance of submaximal isometric handgrip force control. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 1251–1261 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04357-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04357-x