Age-related differences in visual P300 ERP during dual-task postural balance

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2021 Nov:2021:6511-6514. doi: 10.1109/EMBC46164.2021.9630088.

Abstract

Standing and concurrently performing a cognitive task is a very common situation in everyday life. It is associated with a higher risk of falling in the elderly. Here, we aim at evaluating the differences of the P300 evoked potential elicited by a visual oddball paradigm between healthy younger (< 35 y) and older (> 64 y) adults during a simultaneous postural task. We found that P300 latency increases significantly (p < 0.001) when the elderly are engaged in more challenging postural tasks; younger adults show no effect of balance condition. Our results demonstrate that, even if the elderly have the same accuracy in odd stimuli detection as younger adults do, they require a longer processing time for stimulus discrimination. This finding suggests an increased attentional load which engages additional cerebral reserves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attention
  • Evoked Potentials*
  • Humans
  • Postural Balance*