Objective: This study aimed to examine interference between mental activity
and control of balance.
Study Design: In a mixed design, dual-task study, the performance of patien
ts and healthy control subjects was compared on computerized dynamic postur
ography, on a visuospatial mental task, and when performing the mental task
while balancing.
Setting: The study was performed at a tertiary referral outpatient neuro-ot
ology clinic.
Patients and Subjects: The patient group comprised 24 patients seen consecu
tively at the clinic because of vertigo and dizziness. The control group co
nsisted of 24 subjects with no complaint or medical history of dizziness or
balance disorder, matched with the patients for age and gender.
Main Outcome Measures: Performance on a visuospatial mental task and on the
computerized dynamic posturography test (conditions 4 and 5) was measured.
Results: Balancing on the posturography test resulted in a deterioration in
performance on the mental task for both patients and control subjects. The
effect was more marked when subjects had their eyes closed. Results on the
balance test showed that normal subjects and patients with normal balance
also swayed more when performing the mental task, whereas patients who had
failed the posturography test swayed less when performing the mental task.
Conclusions: These results show that mental performance deteriorates when p
erforming a demanding balance task In addition, in both normal subjects and
patients, balance also may be affected by mental activity in complex and v
aried ways that merit further investigation.