Anxiety does not always affect balance: the predominating role of cognitive engagement in a video gaming task.

ABSTRACT: Scientists have predominantly assessed anxiety's impact on postural control when anxiety is created by the need to maintain balance (e.g., standing at heights). In the present study, we investigate how postural control and its mechanisms (i.e., vestibular function) are impacted when anxiety is induced by an unrelated task (playing a video game). Additionally, we compare watching and playing a game to dissociate postural adaptations caused by increased engagement rather than anxiety. Participants [N = 25, female = 8, M (SD) age = 23.5 (3.9)] held a controller in four standing conditions of varying surface compliance (firm or foam) and with or without peripheral visual occlusion across four blocks: quiet standing (baseline), watching the game with a visual task (watching), playing the game (

SUBMITTER: DeCouto BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8407853 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature