Examining Transfer Effects of Dual-Task Training Protocols for a Complex Locomotor Task

Training protocols designed to improve dual-task performance of an obstacle crossing and auditory Stroop task (OBS+Stroop) were tested. In Experiment 1, following baseline collection of OBS+Stroop trials, proximally related walking training was performed, and participants were then retested on the OBS+Stroop test. After training, participants adopted a more cautious obstacle crossing strategy, indicating a potentially safer navigation strategy. Transfer effects from distally related training were then examined (Experiment 2); a computer game training paradigm was examined using the same testing protocol as Experiment 1. Computer training demonstrated improved dual-task performance on some measures, but did not induce a more cautious stepping strategy. Results indicate that dual-task training needs to be similar to targeted tasks to yield reliable, positive training outcomes.