Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of dual-task difficulty on the inhibition of the motor cortex

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dual-tasking is intrinsic to many daily activities, including walking and driving. However, the activity of the primary motor cortex (M1) in response to dual-tasks (DT) is still not well characterised. A recent meta-analysis (Corp in Neurosci Biobehav Rev 43:74–87, 2014) demonstrated a reduction in M1 inhibition during dual-tasking, yet responses were not consistent between studies. It was suggested that DT difficulty might account for some of this between-study variability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether corticospinal excitability and M1 inhibition differed between an easier and more difficult dual-task. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to participants’ abductor pollicis brevis muscle representation during a concurrent pincer grip task and stationary bike-riding. The margin of error in which to maintain pincer grip force was reduced to increase task difficulty. Compared to ST conditions, significantly increased M1 inhibition was demonstrated for the easier, but not more difficult, DT. However, there was no significant difference in M1 inhibition between easy and difficult DTs. The difference in difficulty between the two tasks may not have been wide enough to result in significant differences in M1 inhibition. Increased M1 inhibition for the easy DT condition was in opposition to the reduction in M1 inhibition found in our meta-analysis (Corp in Neurosci Biobehav Rev 43:74–87, 2014). We propose that this may be partially explained by differences in the timing of the TMS pulse between DT studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbruzzese G, Assini A, Buccolieri A, Schieppati M, Trompetto C (1999) Comparison of intracortical inhibition and facilitation in distal and proximal arm muscles in humans. J Physiol 514:895–903

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Yahya E, Dawes H, Smith L, Dennis A, Howells K, Cockburn J (2011) Cognitive motor interference while walking: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 35:715–728

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ball K, Owsley C (1991) Identifying correlates of accident involvement for the older driver. Human Factors: J Human Factors Ergon Soc 33:583–595

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beauchet O, Dubost V, Allali G, Gonthier R, Hermann FR, Kressig RW (2007) ‘Faster counting while walking’ as a predictor of falls in older adults. Age Ageing 36:418

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bherer L, Kramer A, Peterson M, Colcombe S, Erickson K, Becic E (2008) Transfer effects in task-set cost and dual-task cost after dual-task training in older and younger adults: further evidence for cognitive plasticity in attentional control in late adulthood. Exp Aging Res 34:188–219

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Byblow WD, Coxon JP, Stinear CM, Fleming MK, Williams G, Müller JFM et al (2007) Functional connectivity between secondary and primary motor areas underlying hand–foot coordination. J Neurophysiol 98:414–422

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chipchase L, Schabrun S, Cohen L, Hodges P, Ridding M, Rothwell JC et al (2012) A checklist for assessing the methodological quality of studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation to study the motor system: an international consensus study. Clin Neurophysiol 123:1698–1704

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Classen J, Schnitzler A, Binkofski F, Werhahn KJ, Kim Y-S, Kessler KR et al (1997) The motor syndrome associated with exaggerated inhibition within the primary motor cortex of patients with hemiparetic stroke. Brain 120:605–619

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J (1977) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Academic press, Cambridge

  • Corp DT, Lum JAG, Tooley GA, Pearce AJ (2014) Corticospinal activity during dual tasking: a systematic review and meta-analysis of TMS literature from 1995-2013. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 43:74–87

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dux PE, Tombu MN, Harrison S, Rogers BP, Tong F, Marois R (2009) Training improves multitasking performance by increasing the speed of information processing in human prefrontal cortex. Neuron 63:127–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Erickson KI, Colcombe SJ, Wadhwa R, Bherer L, Peterson MS, Scalf PE et al (2005) Neural correlates of dual-task performance after minimizing task-preparation. NeuroImage 28:967–979

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Field A (2009) Discovering statistics using SPSS. Sage publications, Thousand Oaks

  • Fuhr P, Agostino R, Hallett M (1991) Spinal motor neuron excitability during the silent period after cortical stimulation. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol Evoked Potentials Sect 81:257–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujiyama H, Garry M, Levin O, Swinnen SP, Summers JJ (2009) Age-related differences in inhibitory processes during interlimb coordination. Brain Res 1262:38–47

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujiyama H, Hinder MR, Schmidt MW, Garry MI, Summers JJ (2012) Age-related differences in corticospinal excitability and inhibition during coordination of upper and lower limbs. Neurobiol Agin, 33:1484.e1481–1484.e1414

  • Hess C, Mills K, Murray N (1986) Magnetic stimulation of the human brain: facilitation of motor responses by voluntary contraction of ipsilateral and contralateral muscles with additional observations on an amputee. Neurosci Lett 71:235–240

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holste KG, Yasen AL, Hill M, Christie A (in press) Motor cortex inhibition is increased during a secondary cognitive task. Motor control. doi:10.1123/mc.2014-0047

  • Inghilleri M, Berardelli A, Cruccu G, Manfredi M (1993) Silent period evoked by transcranial stimulation of the human cortex and cervicomedullary junction. J Physiol 466:521–534

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen-Berg H, Matthews P (2002) Attention to movement modulates activity in sensori-motor areas, including primary motor cortex. Exp Brain Res 142:13–24

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman D (1973) Attention and effort. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Kidgell DJ, Pearce AJ (2010) Corticospinal properties following short-term strength training of an intrinsic hand muscle. Hum Mov Sci 29:631–641

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kujirai T, Caramia M, Rothwell JC, Day B, Thompson P, Ferbert A et al (1993) Corticocortical inhibition in human motor cortex. J Physiol 471:501–519

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Li KZH, Roudaia E, Lussier M, Bherer L, Leroux A, McKinley P (2010) Benefits of cognitive dual-task training on balance performance in healthy older adults. J Gerontol Ser A Biol Sci Med Sci 65:1344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Master S, Tremblay F (2009) Task-specific increase in corticomotor excitability during tactile discrimination. Exp Brain Res 194:163–172

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre-Robinson AJ, Byblow WD (2013) A neurophysiological basis for the coordination between hand and foot movement. J Neurophysiol 110:1039–1046

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C, Ball K, Sloane ME, Roenker DL, Bruni JR (1991) Visual/cognitive correlates of vehicle accidents in older drivers. Psychol Aging 6:403

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce AJ, Thickbroom GW, Byrnes ML, Mastaglia FL (2000) Functional reorganisation of the corticomotor projection to the hand in skilled racquet players. Exp Brain Res 130:238–243

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pellecchia GL (2005) Dual-task training reduces impact of cognitive task on postural sway. J Mot Behav 37:239–246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poston B, Kukke SN, Paine RW, Francis S, Hallett M (2012) Cortical silent period duration and its implications for surround inhibition of a hand muscle. Eur J Neurosci 36:2964–2971

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ridding M, Sheean G, Rothwell J, Inzelberg R, Kujirai T (1995) Changes in the balance between motor cortical excitation and inhibition in focal, task specific dystonia. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 59:493–498

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sherwood DE, Schmidt RA (1980) The relationship between force and force variability in minimal and near-maximal static and dynamic contractions. J Mot Behav 12:75–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov S, Johnston J, Chiang H, Ray W (2002) Movement-related EEG potentials are force or end-effector dependent: evidence from a multi-finger experiment. Clin Neurophysiol 113:1125–1135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slobounov S, Hallett M, Newell KM (2004) Perceived effort in force production as reflected in motor-related cortical potentials. Clin Neurophysiol 115:2391–2402

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn YH, Kang SY, Hallett M (2005) Corticospinal disinhibition during dual action. Exp Brain Res 162:95–99

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sugawara K, Furubayashi T, Takahashi M, Ni Z, Ugawa Y, Kasai T (2005) Remote effects of voluntary teeth clenching on excitability changes of the human hand motor area. Neurosci Lett 377:25–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tazoe T, Endoh T, Nakajima T, Sakamoto M, Komiyama T (2007a) Disinhibition of upper limb motor area by voluntary contraction of the lower limb muscle. Exp Brain Res 177:419–430

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tazoe T, Sakamoto M, Nakajima T, Endoh T, Komiyama T (2007b) Effects of remote muscle contraction on transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials and silent periods in humans. Clin Neurophysiol 118:1204–1212

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tombu MN, Asplund CL, Dux PE, Godwin D, Martin JW, Marois R (2011) A unified attentional bottleneck in the human brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108:13426–13431

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vallesi A (2015) Dual-task costs in aging are predicted by formal education. Aging Clin Exp Res 27:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson SA, Lockwood RJ, Thickbroom GW, Mastaglia FL (1993) The muscle silent period following transcranial magnetic cortical stimulation. J Neurol Sci 114:216–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by an Endeavour Research Fellowship awarded to DC. The authors would like to thank B. Major for assistance with data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia

    Daniel T. Corp, Mark A. Rogers & George J. Youssef

  2. Melbourne School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Alan J. Pearce

Authors
  1. Daniel T. Corp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark A. Rogers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. George J. Youssef
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alan J. Pearce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel T. Corp.

Appendix

Appendix

Were the following participant factors

Reported?

Controlled?

Age of subjects

✓

 

Gender of subjects

✓

 

Handedness of subjects

✓

 

Subjects prescribed medication

 

✓

Use of CNS active drugs (e.g. anti-convulsants)

 

✓

Presence of neurological/psychiatric disorders when studying healthy subjects

✓

 

Any medical conditions

✓

 

History of specific repetitive motor activity

 

✗

Were the following methodological factors

  

Position and contact of EMG electrodes

✓

 

Amount of relaxation/contraction of target muscles

✓

 

Prior motor activity of the muscle to be tested

 

✗

Level of relaxation of muscles other than those being tested

✓

 

Coil type (size and geometry)

✓

 

Coil orientation

✓

 

Direction of induced current in the brain

 

✓

Coil location and stability (with or without a neuronavigation system)

✓

 

Type of stimulator used (e.g. brand)

✓

 

Stimulation intensity

✓

 

Pulse shape (monophasic or biphasic)

✓

 

Determination of optimal hotspot

✓

 

The time between MEP trials

✓

 

Time between days of testing

N/A

 

Subject attention (level of arousal) during testing

 

✓

Method for determining threshold (active/resting)

✓

 

Number of MEP measures made

✓

 

Paired pulse only: Intensity of test pulse

N/A

 

Paired pulse only: Intensity of conditioning pulse

N/A

 

Paired pulse only: Inter-stimulus interval

N/A

 

Were the following analytical factors

  

Method for determining MEP size during analysis

✓

 

Size of unconditioned MEP

N/A

 
  1. Checklist designed by Chipchase et al. (2012)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Corp, D.T., Rogers, M.A., Youssef, G.J. et al. The effect of dual-task difficulty on the inhibition of the motor cortex. Exp Brain Res 234, 443–452 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-015-4479-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-015-4479-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation