Did you even see that? Visual sensory processing of single stimuli under different locomotor loads [motion tracking data]

Modern living and working environments are more and more interspersed with the concurrent execution of locomotion and sensory processing, most often in the visual domain. Many job profiles involve the presentation of visual information while walking, for example in warehouse logistics work, where a worker has to manage walking to the correct aisle to pick up a package while being presented with visual information over data-glasses concerning the next order. Similar use-cases can be found in manufacturing jobs, for example in car montage assembly lines where next steps are presented via augmented reality headsets while walking at a slow pace. Considering the overall scarcity of cognitive resources available to be deployed to either the cognitive or motor processes, task performance decrements were found when increasing load in either domain. Interestingly, the walking motion also had beneficial effects on peripheral contrast detection and the inhibition of visual stream information. Taking these findings into account, we conducted a study that comprised the detection of single visual targets (Landolt Cs) within a broad range of the visual field (-40° to +40° visual angle) while either standing, walking, or walking with concurrent perturbations. We used questionnaire (NASA-TLX), behavioral (response times and accuracy), and neurophysiological data (ERPs and ERSPs) to quantify the effects of cognitive-motor interference. The study was conducted in a Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Laboratory (GRAIL), using a 180° projection screen and a swayable and tiltable dual-belt treadmill. Questionnaire and behavioral measures showed common patterns. We found increasing subjective physical workload and behavioral decrements with increasing stimulus eccentricity and motor complexity. Electrophysiological results also indicated decrements in stimulus processing with higher stimulus eccentricity and movement complexity (P3, Theta), but highlighted a beneficial role when walking without perturbations and processing more peripheral stimuli regarding earlier sensory components (N1pc/N2pc, N2). These findings suggest that walking without impediments can enhance the visual processing of peripheral information and therefore help with perceiving non-foveal sensory content. Also, our results could help with re-evaluating previous findings in the context of cognitive-motor interference, as increased motor complexity might not always impede cognitive processing and performance.现代生活与工作环境中，运动与感知处理的并行执行愈发普遍，且多集中于视觉领域。诸多职业岗位要求从业者在行走过程中接收视觉信息，例如仓储物流工作中，工人需步行至正确货架通道取件，同时通过数据眼镜接收下一订单的视觉指引；类似的应用场景也可见于制造业，如汽车总装生产线，工人以慢速行走时，可通过增强现实（Augmented Reality）头显获取下一步操作提示。鉴于可分配给认知或运动过程的认知资源整体稀缺，任一领域的负载提升均会导致任务表现衰退。值得注意的是，行走运动反而对周边对比检测以及视觉信息流的抑制存在有益作用。基于上述研究发现，我们开展了一项实验：在视野范围-40°至+40°的视角内检测单个视觉目标（Landolt缺口环，Landolt C），受试者分别处于站立、行走，或行走伴随同步扰动的三种状态。本研究采用问卷（NASA任务负荷指数量表，NASA-TLX）、行为学指标（反应时与准确率）以及神经生理学数据（事件相关电位ERPs与事件相关同步/去同步电位ERSPs），以量化认知-运动干扰的效应。实验在步态实时分析交互实验室（GRAIL）中开展，使用180°投影屏与可摇摆、可倾斜的双带跑步机。问卷与行为学测量结果呈现出一致的模式：随着刺激偏心度与运动复杂度提升，受试者的主观体力负荷与行为表现均出现下降。电生理学结果同样显示，随着刺激偏心度与运动复杂度提升，刺激加工过程出现受损（P3成分、Theta频段活动），但在无扰动行走且处理周边视觉刺激时，早期感觉成分（N1pc/N2pc成分、N2成分）则表现出有益效应。上述结果表明，无阻碍的行走能够增强周边视觉信息的加工，从而帮助感知非中央凹的感官内容。此外，本研究结果或有助于重新评估过往认知-运动干扰相关研究的结论，因为更高的运动复杂度未必总会阻碍认知加工与任务表现。