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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0The European Journal of Neuroscience

Treadmill or Overground? Cognitive–Motor Interference Effects in Healthy Older Individuals

  • Lara J. Papin1
  • Julius Welzel1,2
  • Jessica Koschate‐Storm3
  • Tania Zieschang3
  • Karsten Witt4,5,6
  • Stefan Debener1,4,7,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Lab Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
  2. 2Department of Neurology University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein and Kiel University Kiel Germany
  3. 3Department for Health Services Research, Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
  4. 4Cluster Excellence Hearing4all Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
  5. 5Department of Neurology Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
  6. 6University Clinic for Neurology, at the Evangelical Hospital Oldenburg Germany
  7. 7Center for Neurosensory Sciences and Systems Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
  8. 8Fraunhofer Institute Digital Media Technology Branch Hearing Speech & Audio Technology Oldenburg Germany
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Abstract

Walking is increasingly understood as a cognitively demanding activity requiring the integration of sensory processing, motor control and executive functions. When combined with a concurrent cognitive task (dual‐tasking), cognitive–motor interactions may lead to changes in gait, behaviour and neurophysiology. In healthy aging, reduced motor automaticity may result in greater involvement of top–down control, increasing susceptibility to cognitive–motor interference and fall risk, even in the absence of clinical impairment. To explore real‐world demands, we compared dual‐tasking during outdoor overground walking and during indoor treadmill walking, using behavioural assessment of cognitive task performance, mobile electroencephalography and motion tracking with wearable sensors. Thirty‐six older adults performed an auditory Go/No‐Go task during both walking conditions and in a seated control condition. Compared to a stationary control condition, results confirmed significant dual‐task interference effects during both walking conditions, and this effect was more pronounced during overground walking. The results suggest that overground walking imposes greater demands, leading to increased competition between cognitive and motor processes for shared cognitive resources. The consideration of natural conditions helps to identify the cognitive demands of locomotion.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{papin2026treadmill,
  title = {{Treadmill or Overground? Cognitive–Motor Interference Effects in Healthy Older Individuals}},
  author = {Lara J. Papin and Julius Welzel and Jessica Koschate‐Storm and Tania Zieschang and Karsten Witt and Stefan Debener},
  journal = {The European Journal of Neuroscience},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1111/ejn.70724},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.70724},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Treadmill or Overground? Cognitive–Motor Interference Effects in Healthy Older Individuals
AU  - Lara J. Papin
AU  - Julius Welzel
AU  - Jessica Koschate‐Storm
AU  - Tania Zieschang
AU  - Karsten Witt
AU  - Stefan Debener
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - The European Journal of Neuroscience
DO  - 10.1111/ejn.70724
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.70724
AB  - Walking is increasingly understood as a cognitively demanding activity requiring the integration of sensory processing, motor control and executive functions. When combined with a concurrent cognitive task (dual‐tasking), cognitive–motor interactions may lead to changes in gait, behaviour and neurophysiology. In healthy aging, reduced motor automaticity may result in greater involvement of top–down control, increasing susceptibility to cognitive–motor interference and fall risk, even in the absence of clinical impairment. To explore real‐world demands, we compared dual‐tasking during outdoor overground walking and during indoor treadmill walking, using behavioural assessment of cognitive task performance, mobile electroencephalography and motion tracking with wearable sensors. Thirty‐six older adults performed an auditory Go/No‐Go task during both walking conditions and in a seated control condition. Compared to a stationary control condition, results confirmed significant dual‐task interference effects during both walking conditions, and this effect was more pronounced during overground walking. The results suggest that overground walking imposes greater demands, leading to increased competition between cognitive and motor processes for shared cognitive resources. The consideration of natural conditions helps to identify the cognitive demands of locomotion.
SN  - 0953-816X
SN  - 1460-9568
ER  -