Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35034175›Full record

SynthesisExperimental brain research2022

Effect of cognitive task complexity on dual task postural stability: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abubakar Tijjani Salihu, Keith D Hill, Shapour Jaberzadeh

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Experimental brain research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. Horizontal vHIT gain is unaffected by moderate cognitive load: evidence from a single-distance dual-task paradigm.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
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  7. Turning as a single and dual task-associations with Alzheimer's and vascular pathologies in cognitively healthy older people.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Abubakar Tijjani SalihuNon-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston Victoria 319, P O Box 527, Melbourne, Australia. abubakar.salihu@monash.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0123-8112
Keith D HillRehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2191-0308
Shapour JaberzadehNon-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston Victoria 319, P O Box 527, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2957-4510

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The dual task experimental paradigm is used to probe the attentional requirements of postural control. However, findings of dual task postural studies have been inconsistent with many studies even reporting improvement in postural stability during dual tasking and thus raising questions about cognitive involvement in postural control. A U-shaped non-linear relationship has been hypothesized between cognitive task complexity and dual task postural stability suggesting that the inconsistent results might have arisen from the use of cognitive tasks of varying complexities. To systematically review experimental studies that compared the effect of simple and complex cognitive tasks on postural stability during dual tasking, we searched seven electronic databases for relevant studies published between 1980 to September 2020. 33 studies involving a total of 1068 participants met the review's inclusion criteria, 17 of which were included in meta-analysis (healthy young adults: 15 studies, 281 participants; Stroke patients: 2 studies, 52 participants). Narrative synthesis of the findings in studies involving healthy old adults was carried out. Our result suggests that in healthy population, cognitive task complexity may not determine whether postural stability increases or decreases during dual tasking (effect of cognitive task complexity was not statistically significant; P > 0.1), and thus the U-shaped non-linear hypothesis is not supported. Rather, differential effect of dual tasking on postural stability was observed mainly based on the age of the participants and postural task challenge, implying that the involvement of cognitive resources or higher cortical functions in the control of postural stability may largely depends on these two factors.

Indexed as

CognitionStrokeAttentionHumansPostural BalanceYoung AdultCognitive task complexityDual taskingPostural controlPostural stability

Identifiers

PMID35034175

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.