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Full-Text Articles in Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Effects Of Word Length, Articulation, Oral-Motor Movement, And Lexicality On Gait: A Pilot Study, K. Davie, Janis Cardy, J. Holmes, M. Gagnon, A. Hyde, M. Jenkins, Andrew Johnson Dec 2011

The Effects Of Word Length, Articulation, Oral-Motor Movement, And Lexicality On Gait: A Pilot Study, K. Davie, Janis Cardy, J. Holmes, M. Gagnon, A. Hyde, M. Jenkins, Andrew Johnson

Andrew M. Johnson

Previous research has suggested that articulatory demands are important predictors of the impact of dual-task interference on spatial-temporal parameters of gait. In this study, we evaluated the effects of word length, oral-motor movement, articulation, and lexicality, within a verbal task, on a continuous gait task. Fifteen healthy young women participated in a study in which two word lengths (monosyllabic and bisyllabic) were crossed with four levels of secondary task complexity (no dual-task, non-speech movement, spoken non-word, and spoken word). Spatial and temporal parameters of gait were measured using a 23' instrumented carpet. Results indicated a significant multivariate main effect for …


Dual-Task Interference: The Effects Of Verbal Cognitive Tasks On Upright Postural Stability In Parkinson's Disease, J. Holmes, M. Jenkins, Andrew Johnson, S. Adams, S. Spaulding Feb 2010

Dual-Task Interference: The Effects Of Verbal Cognitive Tasks On Upright Postural Stability In Parkinson's Disease, J. Holmes, M. Jenkins, Andrew Johnson, S. Adams, S. Spaulding

Andrew M. Johnson

Although dual-task interference has previously been demonstrated to have a significant effect on postural control among individuals with Parkinson's disease, the impact of speech complexity on postural control has not been demonstrated using quantitative biomechanical measures. The postural stability of twelve participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and twelve healthy age-matched controls was evaluated under three conditions: (1) without a secondary task, (2) performing a rote repetition task and (3) generating a monologue. Results suggested a significant effect of cognitive load on biomechanical parameters of postural stability. Although both groups increased their postural excursion, individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrated significantly reduced …


Dual Task Performance In A Healthy Young Adult Population: Results From A Symmetric Manipulation Of Task Complexity And Articulation, Albert Armieri, Jeffrey Holmes, Sandi Spaulding, Mary Jenkins, Andrew Johnson Jan 2009

Dual Task Performance In A Healthy Young Adult Population: Results From A Symmetric Manipulation Of Task Complexity And Articulation, Albert Armieri, Jeffrey Holmes, Sandi Spaulding, Mary Jenkins, Andrew Johnson

Andrew M. Johnson

The ability to execute and maintain gait while performing simultaneous cognitive, verbal, or motor tasks ('dual-tasking') is beneficial in many ways. It is well-documented, however, that dual-tasking can result in cognitive or motoric interference that results in diminished gait performance, and impaired secondary task performance. When manipulating cognitive load, it is common to have participants respond verbally to stimuli. While this is an ecologically valid way to measure the effects of cognitive load on gait, it ignores the additional demands inherent in the verbal aspect of the task. In the present study, we manipulated complexity and articulation within a single …


From Perception To Execution In Parkinson’S Disease, Andrew Johnson, Quincy Almeida Dec 2004

From Perception To Execution In Parkinson’S Disease, Andrew Johnson, Quincy Almeida

Andrew M. Johnson

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects one’s ability to control voluntary movements. Typically, PD is considered a disease of motor output, without considering neuropsychological variables that might contribute to the impairment of movement. The goal of this chapter is to investigate issues of motor control, in addition to the observable motor symptoms found in PD from a perceptual and cognitive perspective. To this end, we divide movement into three components: perception, initiation, and execution. Perception is required initially, and throughout movement, and is generally used to define characteristics of a movement goal. Thus, in the earliest …