The role of executive function domains on cognitive and gait performance during dual task walking in healthy young adults: A preliminary study

Yong-Wei Lim; Shiuan-Ling Huang; Yan-Ci Liu

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.06.009

The role of executive function domains on cognitive and gait performance during dual task walking in healthy young adults: A preliminary study

Gait Posture. 2025 Jun 16:121:325-331. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.06.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yong-Wei Lim¹, Shiuan-Ling Huang², Yan-Ci Liu³

Affiliations

¹ School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan. Electronic address: b06408032@ntu.edu.tw.
² School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan. Electronic address: bala4986@gmail.com.
³ School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan; Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: yanciliu@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 40555012
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.06.009

Abstract

Background: Dual-task walking (DTW) is commonly used to assess EF, yet most research has focused either on motor task difficulty or the influence of a single EF domain. This study addresses the gap by examining multiple EF domains during DTW.

Objective: This study investigated the impact of different executive function (EF) domains on dual-task walking (DTW) in healthy young adults.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 29 healthy young adults completed tasks representing inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, both individually and while walking. Correct response speed (CRS) for EF tasks and dual-task cost (DTC) for CRS, gait speed, and overall interference were measured across different EF domains.

Results: The backward digit span task (working memory) exhibited the highest CRS in both single-task and dual-task conditions, while the naming task (cognitive flexibility) had the slowest CRS. Gait performance was best during single walking, followed by walking while performing the Stroop task (WS), backward digit span task (WB), and naming task (WN). Significantly higher DTCs for CRS were observed during WB, and for gait speed during WN. WN demonstrated the highest overall interference, while working memory showed similar levels of cognitive and motor interference.

Conclusion: Different EF domains exert varying levels of interference on dual-task walking. Cognitive flexibility demonstrated the highest overall interference, while working memory showed similar levels of cognitive and motor interference.

Application: These findings are valuable for selecting assessments and planning interventions to improve dual-tasking abilities, particularly in populations at risk for cognitive-motor interference.

Keywords: Difficulty level; Dual task interference; Dual task walking; Executive function; Gait performance.