Cognitive load in individuals with a transfemoral amputation during single- and dual-task walking: a pilot study of brain activity in people using a socket prosthesis or a bone-anchored prosthesis.

Objective: To explore cognitive load in people with transfemoral amputations fitted with socket or bone-anchored prostheses by describing activity in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortices during single- and dual-task walking.

Design: Cross-sectional pilot study.

Patients: 8 socket prosthesis users and 8 bone-anchored prosthesis users. All were fitted with microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees.

Methods: Participants answered self-report questionnaires and performed gait tests during 1 single-task walking condition and 2 dual-task walking conditions. While walking, activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Cognitive load was investigated for each participant by exploring the relative concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Symmetry of brain activity was investigated by calculating a laterality index.

Results: Self-report measures and basic gait variables did not show differences between the groups. No obvious between-group differences were observed in the relative concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin for any walking condition. There was a tendency towards more right-side brain activity for participants using a socket prosthesis during dual-task conditions.

Conclusions: This pilot study did not identify substantial differences in cognitive load or lateralization between socket prosthesis users and bone-anchored prosthesis users.