Sensorimotor–Cognitive Couplings
This project examines lifespan changes in the interactions between sensorimotor and cognitive aspects of behavior. Everyday life often requires the integration of multiple sensory inputs and concurrent coordination of sensorimotor and cognitive demands. Examples are walking while trying to memorize a shopping list, maintaining one’s balance on a bus while trying to read an advertisement, or trying to remember the way to a friend’s house while driving in the hectic morning traffic. Everyday observation further suggests that older adults and young children need to invest more attention into sensorimotor aspects of their behavior than teenagers and young adults. For example, when facing an obstacle on a narrow path, older adults may tend to stop talking and resume their conversations after the obstacle has been overcome, whereas the same obstacle will affect younger adults’ conversation to a lesser extent.
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- How do individuals of different ages adapt to multiple sensorimotor and cognitive demands?
- How does the interaction between sensorimotor and cognitive dimensions of behavior change across the lifespan?
The Sensorimotor-Cognitive Couplings project seeks to provide answers to these questions by focusing on motor aspects of behavior, both in isolation and in relation to cognitive task demands. A related goal of the project is to propose and test criteria for effective technological assistance in old age.
SmartSenior
The Sensorimotor–Cognitive Coupling project is also part of SmartSenior, a research alliance sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research. This alliance examines the potential of new technologies to improve life in old age.
Nehmer, J., Lindenberger, U., & Steinhagen-Thiessen, E. (Eds.). (2010). Aging and technology [Special issue]. GeroPsych, 23(2).
Further information on SmartSenior
Team
Sabine Schaefer
Michael Schellenbach
Julius Verrel
Ulman Lindenberger
Dominik Jednoralski
Maike Kleemeyer (predoctoral fellows)
Gabriele Faust (research assistant)
Student Assistant Sought
The Sensorimotor-Cognitive Couplings Team is looking for a student assistant for software development. See German version for further information!
Key References
Schaefer, S., Huxhold, O., & Lindenberger, U. (2006). Healthy mind in healthy body? A review of sensorimotor-cognitive interdependencies in old age. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 3, 45–54. doi: 10.1007/s11556-006-0007-5
Schaefer, S., Lövdén, M., Wieckhorst, B., & Lindenberger, U. (2010). Cognitive performance is improved while walking: Differences in cognitive-sensorimotor couplings between children and young adults. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 7, 371–389. doi: 10.1080/17405620802535666
Schellenbach, M., Lövdén, M., Verrel, J., Krüger, A., & Lindenberger, U. (2010). Sensorimotor-cognitive couplings in the context of assistive spatial navigation for older adults. GeroPsych, 23, 69–77. doi: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000010
Verrel, J., Lövdén, M., & Lindenberger, U. (2010). Motor-equivalent covariation stabilizes step parameters and center of mass position during treadmill walking. Experimental Brain Research, 207, 13–26. doi: 10.1007/s00221-010-2424-y
Verrel, J., Lövdén, M., Schellenbach, M., Schaefer, S., & Lindenberger, U. (2009). Interacting effects of cognitive load and adult age on the regularity of whole-body motion during treadmill walking. Psychology and Aging, 24, 75–81. doi: 10.1037/a0014272