01
draw (e.g. a bow)"speech" or "words" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 149)
A growing body of research suggests that human walking behavior is not just a subconscious mechanical movement; it is also regulated by higher cognitive functions and the cerebral cortex. Recently, scientists have explored brain activity during walking with the help of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The study found that when subjects completed language-based cognitive tasks while walking, oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂) levels in the frontal cortex increased significantly, suggesting enhanced brain activity in this region.
But is this brain activation only related to the "language task"? Or is it a response specific to gait control? Would similar brain changes be triggered by the same verbal task if it was changed to a standing state? The present study was designed to answer these questions and to further reveal whether activation of the frontal cortex during dual tasks (e.g., walking and talking) is a neural phenomenon unique to the "walking" context.
02
Research Methodology
Experimental design—beIs "walking and counting" more cerebral, or is "standing and counting" the same?
To further explore the combined effects of gait and cognitive tasks on the brain, the research team recruited 23 healthy young adults (average age approximately 30.9 years, 13 of whom were female) for experimental evaluation using electronic walkways with the fNIRS technology. fNIRS equipment monitors brain activity in the frontal lobe region in real time through two probes mounted on the forehead.
The experiment was set up with four task conditions:
-Free walking (normal walking)
-count forward as one goes
-Reduce by 7 consecutively as you go (e.g., start at 100 and reduce by 7).
-Perform continuous minus 7 while standing
In each task, subjects were required to complete five 30-meter walks or stationary stands and to stand quietly for 20 seconds before the start of each, which were used as baseline comparisons of brain activity.
Methods of analysis—Repeated measures ANOVA (RM ANOVA)
To compare differences in frontal lobe activation across conditions, the study used a repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) method to statistically test the results. This design allowed us to further reveal that the brain in theCompletion of different motor and cognitive combination taskswhether it exhibits a unique activation pattern when.
03
Assessment methodology
Assessment of frontal lobe function
In the present study, a total of two pairs of NIRS probes were placed on the subjects' foreheads, located in the left (Fp1) and right (Fp2) frontal cortex regions. Each pair of probes contained three transmitters, which together constituted six channels.
The fNIRS system reflects local brain activity by emitting light at two near-infrared wavelengths (760 and 850 nanometers) and measuring its reflection in brain tissue to estimate changes in the micromolar concentration of oxygenated versus deoxygenated hemoglobin in the brain.
Before each task, subjects were required to stand still for 20 seconds to obtain a baseline signal. The researchers then subtracted this baseline level from the HbO₂ data for the duration of the task to get the task-related changes in brain activation. Each task was repeated five times and the data were then averaged to ensure stable and reliable results.
04
Gait assessment
In addition to recording brain activity, the study was synchronized with a "high-tech carpet" - a 7-meter-long sensor carpet (PKMAS system) - that accurately captured the details of each of the subject's footsteps at a high frequency of 120Hz. It can analyze key spatial and temporal gait characteristics such as gait speed, pace rhythm, and stride length. It also assesses inter-stride instability - inter-stride variability - which is an important indicator of executive function-related gait coordination.
The degree of variability in stride timing was quantified in the study by calculating the coefficient of variation (CV), with higher CV values representing more inconsistent pacing, which may indicate a challenge to cognitive control resources in completing the task.
05
analysis
1. Slow and erratic gait: cognitive tasks affect walking performance
In"Continuous minus 7 while walking" (Walk + S7) in the mission:
-Significant decrease in gait speed
-Increased volatility in pace time, exhibiting "unsteady walking"
Increased variability reflects an increased burden on executive functions, suggesting that the brain needs to devote more resources to maintaining walking coordination.
2. the greater the cognitive load, the greater the activation of the frontal lobes of the brain
pass (a bill or inspection etc)Changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂) levels in the frontal cortex were monitored by fNIRS and found:
Changes in HbO₂ activity showed a trend toward progressive enhancement of task difficulty (p = 0.007):
-Highest: Walking + S7
-Medium: walking + counting
-Minimum: normal walking (not significant)
with"Usually on foot" compared:
-Walk+Count: HbO₂↑ 0.15 μM (p = 0.03)
-Walk + S7: HbO₂↑ 0.26 μM (p = 0.009)
3.Synergistic relationship between brain and gait: mutual"Grabbing resources"?
WalkingA significant negative correlation was observed in +S7:
-Step variability ↑ → HbO₂ ↑ (r = -0.47, p = 0.04)
-Number of subtraction tasks completed ↓ → HbO₂ ↑ (r = -0.71, p = 0.011)
The brain may sacrifice some cognitive performance when trying to maintain walking stability, reflecting a "brain resource allocation" strategy.
4. Weak activation of resting tasks and rapid recovery
"Standing + S7"vs."stationary"**No significant brain activation differences between (p = 0.76)
At the end of the task, HbO₂ levels returned rapidly to baseline, consistent with a typical neurohemodynamic response.
06
Study results
Walking+任务：前额叶“更努力”
研究表明，随着任务复杂度的增加，大脑的激活程度也显著上升。双重任务会显著增加前额叶皮层（PFC，尤其是BA10区）的负荷，且这种激活不是简单的“语言任务反应”，而是与身体运动中的认知协调紧密相关。
行走VS站立：并非一回事
同样的认知任务（如S7），如果在站立时进行，反而会导致血氧水平下降，表明认知负荷的激活机制在静态和动态状态下完全不同。
多任务处理：大脑资源也“抢地盘”
研究还发现，在步行+S7条件下，大脑氧合水平与被试的任务完成质量呈负相关。这意味着，大脑在面对运动+认知任务时，确实存在神经资源竞争的情况。
步态与认知：更深层的联系
研究还首次发现，在双重任务中，步态的变化（如步频、步幅）与大脑氧合水平密切相关。反映了执行功能与运动控制之间的深度耦合关系。
07
looking forward
本研究的对象是健康年轻人，但老年人或神经退行性疾病患者的脑激活水平往往较低，可能难以有效应对“双重任务”，这也是他们更易在复杂环境中跌倒或出现认知障碍的潜在机制。
这项研究让我们意识到，“走路+想事情”这件看似简单的小事，其实背后隐藏着大脑复杂的调控机制。而fNIRS技术，也正在为我们揭开这些“日常中的认知奥秘”。
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