Intracortical Connections in Dual Tasks Including Motor and Computing–Logical or Spatial–Visual Components

Abstract

We performed complex electroencephalographic (EEG) and stabilographic study in 19 healthy volunteers (25 ± 0.7 years of age) performing isolated and simultaneous cognitive and motor tasks. Increased EEG coherence in the slow (Δ and θ) bands was observed predominantly in the frontotemporal areas of the left hemisphere during isolated computing-logical tasks. Increased coherence in slow spectral bands was also observed in the right hemisphere during spatial-visual tasks. During motor task performance, increased coherence in the high-frequency bands (α, β, and γ) was observed predominantly in the right hemisphere. The number of connections in the slow bands in simultaneous cognitive and motor tasks was decreased as compared with isolated tasks. Moreover, increased EEG coherence in the α₁ band was observed in the frontal, central and parietal areas of both hemispheres during dual tasks. These findings can indicate the distribution of cognitive resources for both components of dual tasks, as well as the use of supplementary brain resources under these conditions.