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The question of the possible impact of deafness on temporal processing remains unanswered. Different findings, based on behavioral measures, show contradictory results. The goal of the present study is to analyze the brain activity underlying time estimation by using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques, which allow examination of the frontal, central and occipital cortical areas. A total of 37 participants (19 deaf) were recruited. The experimental task involved processing a road scene to determine whether the driver had time to safely execute a driving task, such as overtaking. The road scenes were presented in animated format, or in sequences of 3 static images showing the beginning, mid-point, and end of a situation. The latter presentation required a clocking mechanism to estimate the time between the samples to evaluate vehicle speed. The results show greater frontal region activity in deaf people, which suggests that more cognitive effort is needed to process these scenes. The central region, which is involved in clocking according to several studies, is particularly activated by the static presentation in deaf people during the estimation of time lapses. Exploration of the occipital region yielded no conclusive results. Our results on the frontal and central regions encourage further study of the neural basis of time processing and its links with auditory capacity.; The question of the possible impact of deafness on temporal processing remains unanswered. Different findings, based on behavioral measures, show contradictory results. The goal of the present study is to analyze the brain activity underlying time estimation by using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques, which allow examination of the frontal, central and occipital cortical areas. A total of 37 participants (19 deaf) were recruited. The experimental task involved processing a road scene to determine whether the driver had time to safely execute a driving task, such as overtaking. The road scenes were presented in animated format, or in sequences of 3 static images showing the beginning, mid-point, and end of a situation. The latter presentation required a clocking mechanism to estimate the time between the samples to evaluate vehicle speed. The results show greater frontal region activity in deaf people, which suggests that more cognitive effort isneeded to process these scenes. The central region, which is involved in clocking according to several studies, is particularly activated by the static presentation in deaf people during the estimation of time lapses. Exploration of the occipital region yielded no conclusive results. Our results on the frontal and central regions encourage further study of the neural basis of time processing and its links with auditory capacity.

Background: Walking while performing a secondary task (dual-task (DT) walking) increases cognitive workload in young adults. To date, few studies have used neurophysiological measures in combination to subjective measures to assess cognitive workload during a walking task. This combined approach can provide more insights into the amount of cognitive resources in relation with the perceived mental effort involving in a walking task. Research Question: The objective was to examine cognitive workload in young adults during walking conditions varying in complexity. Methods: Twenty-five young adults (mean = 24.4 ± 5.4) performed four conditions: (1) usual walking, (2) simple DT walking, (3) complex DT walking and (4) standing while subtracting. During the walking task, mean speed, cadence, stride time, stride length, and their respective coefficient of variation (CV) were recorded. Cognitive workload will be measured through changes in oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin (ΔHbO2 and ΔHbR) during walking in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and perceived mental demand score from NASA-TLX questionnaire. Results: In young adults, ΔHbO2 in the DLPFC increased from usual walking to both DT walking conditions and standing while subtracting condition. ΔHbO2 did not differ between the simple and complex DT and between the complex DT and standing while subtracting condition. Perceived mental demand gradually increased with walking task complexity. As expected, all mean values of gait parameters were altered according to task complexity. CV of speed, cadence and stride time were significantly higher during DT walking conditions than during usual walking whereas CV of stride length was only higher during complex DT walking than during usual walking. Significance: Young adults had greater cognitive workload in the two DT walking conditions compared to usual walking. However, only the mental demand score from NASA-TLX questionnaire discriminated simple from complex DT walking. Subjective measure provides complementary information to objective one on changes in cognitive workload during challenging walking tasks in young adults. These results may be useful to improve our understanding of cognitive workload during walking.

11th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation , LYON, FRANCE, 07-/10/2020 - 10/10/2020; Question: Non-pharmacologic treatment such as physical exercise has been proven to have beneficial effects on gait disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD). In Lyon (France), Sirroco rehabilitation program is a novel, collective, multidisciplinary program focused on intensive, high amplitude movements, and loudness of speech for patients with PD. However, the effects of physical exercise on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity in patients with PD is still elusive. The main aim of this pilot study was to assess the effects of the Sirocco program in patients with PD on DLPFC activity on single task (ST) and dual-task (DT) walking. Methods: Fourteen PD patients (mean: 66.9 y.o ± 8.1) completed Sirocco sessions for 5 weeks. Changes in oxyhemoglobin concentration (?HbO2) in the DLPFC were measured using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy during three walking tasks conditions: (1) ST walking, (2) DT walking while counting forward and (3) DT walking while subtracting. Participants were assessed three times: five weeks before the program (T0); few days before (T1) and one week after the program (T2). Walking performance (mean stride time and cadence) was also recorded using foot-sensors. The gain in performance was calculated by subtracting values at T0 and T1 or at T2 and at T1. Results: Significant differences were observed in ?HbO2 between the three times only for the ST walking: ?HbO2 were significantly higher at T1 than at T0 whereas ?HbO2 was lower in T2 than in T1 (p

WCNR, 11th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation, Lyon, FRANCE, 07-/10/2020 - 11/10/2020; 1.Question: Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) report difficulties walking while performing another task. Dual-task (DT) walking may therefore increase the risk of falls. To date, the effect of DT walking on brain activity is not well understood. The objective of this pilot study was to examine dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity (DLPFC) during single-task (ST) and DT walking conditions in PD patients. 2.Methods: Thirteen patients with PD (mean age: 66 ± 7 years, 8 men, UPDRS motor score (/108): 23 ± 11, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score: 27 ± 2) and 13 healthy older adults (mean age: 64 ± 7 years, 8 men, MoCA score: 28 ± 3) performed three walking tasks: [1] ST walking, [2] DT walking while counting forward (+1) and [3] DT walking while subtracting (-7). Cortical activity in DLPFC, assessed by changes in oxy-haemoglobin (?HbO2) was measured using functional near infrared spectroscopy (NIRSport). Gait performance (speed, cadence and stride length) was recorded simultaneously using wearables sensors (Gait-Up sensors). 3. Results: In ST walking and DT walking while subtracting conditions, ?HbO2 was higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.05). No significant differences in ?HbO2 were found between ST and the two DT-walking conditions in patients whereas ?HbO2 was significantly higher in DT-walking conditions than in ST walking in controls. As expected, patients had reduced walking speed, cadence and stride length compared to controls, regardless of conditions (p < 0.05). Variability of their cadence increased as the walking task difficulty increased, which is not the case for controls. 4. Conclusion This pilot study suggests that dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a major role already during ST walking condition in patients in relatively early stages of PD. This may suggest that patients recruit additional cognitive resources, as a measure of cognitive compensation to perform the ST walking. These findings may have implications for rehabilitation of gait in patients with PD, improving automaticity in simple tasks. Another ongoing study will show the effect of an exercise-based intervention program (SIROCCO program) on DLPFC activity while walking in the same group of patients with PD.

Background: Walking becomes more and more degraded as Parkinson's Disease (PD) progresses. Previous research examined factors contributing to this deterioration. Among them, changes in brain cortical activity during walking have been less studied in this clinical population. Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) investigate changes in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation during usual walking and dual-task walking conditions in patients with PD; (2) examine the association between cortical activity and behavioral/cognitive outcomes; and (3) explore which factors best predict increased activation of the DLPFC during usual walking.Methods:Eighteen patients with early stage PD and 18 controls performed 4 conditions: (1) standing while subtracting, (2) usual walking, (3) walking while counting forward, and (4) walking while subtracting. Cortical activity in DLPFC, assessed by changes in oxy-hemoglobin (ΔHbO2) and deoxy-hemoglobin (ΔHbR), was measured using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Gait performance was recorded using wearables sensors. Cognition was also assessed using neuropsychological tests, including the Trail Making Test (TMT).Results: DLPFC activity was higher in patients compared to controls during both usual walking and walking while subtracting conditions. Patients had impaired walking performance compared to controls only during walking while subtracting task. Moderate-to-strong correlations between ΔHbO2 and coefficients of variation of all gait parameters were found for usual walking and during walking while counting forward conditions. Part-B of TMT predicted 21% of the variance of ΔHbO2 during usual walking after adjustment for group status.Conclusions: The increased DLPFC activity in patients during usual walking suggests a potential compensation for executive deficits. Understanding changes in DLPFC activity during walking may have implications for rehabilitation of gait in patients with PD.

Background: Walking becomes more and more degraded as Parkinson's Disease (PD) progresses. Previous research examined factors contributing to this deterioration. Among them, changes in brain cortical activity during walking have been less studied in this clinical population. Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) investigate changes in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation during usual walking and dual-task walking conditions in patients with PD; (2) examine the association between cortical activity and behavioral/cognitive outcomes; and (3) explore which factors best predict increased activation of the DLPFC during usual walking. Methods: Eighteen patients with early stage PD and 18 controls performed 4 conditions: (1) standing while subtracting, (2) usual walking, (3) walking while counting forward, and (4) walking while subtracting. Cortical activity in DLPFC, assessed by changes in oxy-hemoglobin (?HbO2) and deoxy-hemoglobin (?HbR), was measured using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Gait performance was recorded using wearables sensors. Cognition was also assessed using neuropsychological tests, including the Trail Making Test (TMT). Results: DLPFC activity was higher in patients compared to controls during both usual walking and walking while subtracting conditions. Patients had impaired walking performance compared to controls only during walking while subtracting task. Moderate-to-strong correlations between ?HbO2 and coefficients of variation of all gait parameters were found for usual walking and during walking while counting forward conditions. Part-B of TMT predicted 21% of the variance of ?HbO2 during usual walking after adjustment for group status. Conclusions: The increased DLPFC activity in patients during usual walking suggests a potential compensation for executive deficits. Understanding changes in DLPFC activity during walking may have implications for rehabilitation of gait in patients with PD.

Les 31èmes Entretiens Jacques Cartier, Bron, FRANCE, 13-/11/2018 - 14/11/2018; Évaluer les effets d'un programme de rééducation intensive nommé SIROCCO sur les capacités cognitives et motrices. Programme réalisé à l'hôpital Henry Gabrielle, Saint-Genis-Laval. Les premiers résultats comparant les performances de deux patients ayant eu une évaluation avant et après le programme SIROCCO montrent que les capacités motrices liées à la marche sont améliorées.

12th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Paris. 8-12 July 2018, PARIS, FRANCE, 08-/07/2018 - 12/07/2018; Introduction/Background Evidence suggests that gait in complex situation is influenced by executive function in normal ageing. But to our knowledge, no study revealed what measurement is the most appropriate to assess impaired walking in older adults. The objective is to (1) test the feasibility of our protocol and (2) to explore the cognitive load during a simple vs. dual walking task in younger and older adults. Material and method To date, 6 young adults (mean=26.7 years old; SD=4.1) were included in this study. Fifteen young adults and 25 older adults will be included by May 2018. Participants are asked to achieve a walking task including four conditions: (1) normal pace walking, (2) subtracting while standing, (3) walking while subtracting and (4) walking while counting forward. Cognitive load is measured by changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (fNIRS device) and the NASA-TLX questionnaire completed after each condition. Results fNIRS analyses are in progress. Preliminary results showed that younger adults felt higher cognitive effort in both conditions 2 and 3 compared to condition 1 (NASAscorescondition2 (mean (SD)): 66 (18.7) vs NASAscorecondtion1: 9.5 (6.3), W=?2.2, P=0.03; NASAscorecondition3: 78 (14.6) vs NASAscorecondition1, W=?2.2, P=0.03). No significant differences in speed, cadence and stride length were found between conditions 1, 3 and 4 (P>0.05). No significant differences in subtraction performances were observed between conditions 2 and 3 (P>0.05). Conclusion Higher cognitive load in condition 3 in younger adults confirm that our dual task walking is the most cognitively demanding condition. We expect that our fNIRS results in younger adults will be similar to those observed with NASA-TLX questionnaire. However, discrepancies between those two measures are expected in older adults.

38ème Congrès annuel des hôpitaux de jour gériatriques, COLMAR, FRANCE, 07-/06/2018 - 08/06/2018; Les gériatres et neurologues sont régulièrement confrontés à la question du maintien ou de l'arrêt de la conduite automobile chez des patients présentant un Trouble Neuro- Cognitif (TNC). Des stratégies de compensation, apprises au cours d'ateliers de prévention, peuvent être utilisées pour réduire le risque d'accident en cas de TNC et maintenir transitoirement la conduite automobile avant son arrêt définitif. Le projet ACCOMPAGNE est un programme de prévention de sécurité routière. Il est composé de différents ateliers : atelier de présentation, atelier cognitif, atelier représentation psychologiques, atelier législation, atelier foire aux questions, atelier solutions. Ce programme est destiné aux patients et aux aidants.

Seminar on ageing society, GOTEBORG, SUEDE, 05-/11/2015 - 05/11/2015; Le projet SAFE MOVE for older drivers (2011-2015), a été financé par l'ANR. Il impliquait des partenaires industriels (Continental, PSA et OKTAL), le CNRS, l'INSERM le LESCOT, l'UMRESTTE et le LEPSIS et comportait un projet « jumeau » en Suède avec le VTI et Volvo Cars. Il visait à identifier les déterminants d'une mobilité sure et durable chez les conducteurs âgés et à proposer des solutions appropriées en matière de formation et d'assistance à la conduite. Avec une approche de type cohorte conjuguée à une approche expérimentale, les résultats obtenus ont confirmé que l'auto-estimation cognitive était déterminée par des variables de personnalité, de genre, de mode de vie et qu'elle était bien associée à l'auto-estimation de la performance de conduite.

TRANSED 2015 - 14th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons, LISBONNE, PORTUGAL, 28-/07/2015 - 31/07/2015; Most older drivers are able to efficiently self-regulate their own driving practices, that means reducing driving exposure and avoiding the most challenging driving conditions such as driving at night or in poor weather or at complex intersections. We hypothesized that this self-regulation might exist only if older drivers have accurate insight into their own age-related functional and cognitive decline. This study aims to evaluate how well self-estimation of cognitive ability of older corresponds to their actual driving performance, as assessed under in-traffic conditions. Seventy five current older drivers, men and women aged 70 and more, were recruited from a 1200 cohort study according three cognitive profiles: 25 drivers who correctly estimated their cognitive abilities, 25 drivers who under estimated and 25 drivers who over estimated their cognitive abilities. Driving performance (objective data) was assessed in on-road traffic situation under both driving instructor and experiment evaluations. Auto-estimation of driving abilities was evaluated trough several questions (subjective data) such as: Compared with when you were aged 40 years, how do you drive today? Participants had to respond on a 5-points scale from worse to better. Crossing objective and subjective data will allow to determine if drivers estimate correctly or not their driving performance. It is expected that drivers who overestimate their cognitive abilities also overestimate their driving abilities (similar relation would hold for drivers who under or correctly estimate). The question is how to help drivers who have poor insight of their cognitive and driving abilities in order to maintain their mobility. This would prevent them from a premature driving cessation or from dangerous driving resulting from a lack of awareness of the limitations related to age.

Entretien Jacques Cartier, Bruxelles, BELGIQUE, 25-/11/2015 - 26/11/2015; En théorie, l'examen du code de la route peut être présenté par tous les publics quel que soit le niveau socioculturel, scolaire ou intellectuel. Les supports d'apprentissage ainsi que l'outil de contrôle des connaissances devraient être abordables par tous. Or, dans la pratique, l'examen du code de la route reste difficile d'accès à un nombre important de candidats, en particulier à ceux présentant des lacunes vis-à-vis du langage écrit tels que certains sourds ou malentendants, les personnes non francophones, dyslexiques ou encore dysphasiques. Selon un rapport parlementaire, le taux de réussite à l'examen du code de la n'était que de 27 % pour les candidats ne maîtrisant pas la langue française. Ceci va à l'encontre de la politique d'intégration et de la pleine autonomie des personnes en situation de handicap (loi 2005 en France). L'objectif à terme est d'aménager des supports pédagogiques accessibles aux publics en difficulté linguistique. Il s'agira de concevoir et de tester l'intérêt d'outils innovants qui s'appuient sur les techniques du multimédia et de l'animation. L'idée sous-jacente est qu'un matériel visuel, dynamique, animé, peut favoriser la compréhension de certaines notions de sécurité routière qui ne seraient pas accessibles avec un matériel uniquement écrit et/ou statique (photographies). Cette hypothèse s'appuie sur les résultats convergents dans le domaine de l'apprentissage et du multimédia qui montrent les effets positifs de l'animation sur l'appréhension de notions complexes (Bétrancourt et al., 2001, Boucheix, & Guignard, 2005, Lowe, 2008). Dans la présente étude, nous nous appuyons sur les premiers résultats collectés dans une auto-école lyonnaise qui est spécialisée dans la formation à la conduite des personnes sourdes. Les séances de code sont faites en langue des signes et des outils ont été aménagés pour accompagner ces candidats sourds et malentendants. Malgré ces aménagements très personnalisés, nous montrons que le nombre moyen de mois, de séances, d'échecs à l'examen, de fautes aux différents tests d'entraînement selon les différents thèmes ainsi que la progression sont toujours supérieurs pour les personnes sourdes par rapport aux personnes entendantes avant la réussite à l'examen. Des analyses plus fines nous permettront de cibler plus précisément les situations problématiques qui feront prioritairement l'objet d'aménagements pédagogiques.

BAST - Ageing and Safe Mobility Conference, BERGISCH GLADBACH, ALLEMAGNE, 27-/11/2014 - 28/11/2014; Most older drivers are able to efficiently self-regulate their own driving practices, that means reducing driving exposure and avoiding the most challenging driving conditions such as driving at night or in poor weather or at complex intersections. We hypothesized that this self-regulation might exist only if older drivers have accurate insight into their own age-related functional and cognitive decline. This study aims to evaluate how well self-estimation of cognitive ability of older corresponds to their actual driving performance, as assessed under in-traffic conditions. Seventy five current older drivers, men and women aged 70 and more, were recruited from a 1200 cohort study according three cognitive profiles: 25 drivers who correctly estimated their cognitive abilities, 25 drivers who under estimated and 25 drivers who over estimated their cognitive abilities. Driving performance (objective data) was assessed in on-road traffic situation under both driving instructor and experiment evaluations. Auto-estimation of driving abilities was evaluated trough several questions (subjective data) such as: Compared with when you were aged 40 years, how do you drive today? Participants had to respond on a 5-points scale from worse to better. Crossing objective and subjective data will allow to determine if drivers estimate correctly or not their driving performance. It is expected that drivers who overestimate their cognitive abilities also overestimate their driving abilities (similar relation would hold for drivers who under or correctly estimate). The question is how to help drivers who have poor insight of their cognitive and driving abilities in order to maintain their mobility. This would prevent them from a premature driving cessation or from dangerous driving resulting from a lack of awareness of the limitations related to age.

ICAP 2014 - 28th international congress of Applied Psychology, PARIS , FRANCE, 08-/07/2014 - 13/07/2014; In the course of aging, a number of physical and cognitive changes, as well as health problems, may affect driving ability. Driving in elderly is only a problem of concern if those presenting cognitive deficits do not adapt their driving behaviour in accordance. Compensatory strategies such as reduction of miles driven, avoidance of difficult driving situations and ultimately driving cessation are frequent among older drivers. The hypothesis of the SAFE MOVE project is that the intermediate variable between cognitive decline and an adapted driving regulation is awareness of troubles, overestimation may potentially lead to accident risk, and underestimation to premature driving cessation. In order to design preventive action, it is then crucial to understand the factors associated with self-estimation. In the present study, factors associated with a strong overestimation of cognitive abilities are explored. The study population comprised 1204 car drivers aged 70 and over. They were chosen at random from electoral list of 2 administrative areas in France, contacted by mail, and asked to agree in writing to participate to the study. Individuals were seen at home by a psychologist who completed a questionnaire and two cognitive tests. The self-estimation of cognitive abilities, over, under, and correct estimation of cognitive abilities, was built by comparing objective and subjective evaluations of these capabilities. The objective evaluation was based on a combination of speed and error measurements to the cognitive tests (Trail Making Test A and B, Wechsler codes). Subjective assessment was constructed by 4 questions in which drivers compared their cognitive abilities than other people their age. Thus, 8.2% strongly overestimate their cognitive abilities. Various factors will be analyzed to explain this strong overestimation: age, gender, living arrangement, socioeconomic status, educational level, social support, depression, personality. Some drivers will be submitted to an on-road driving evaluation. This will allow determining if overestimations of cognitive and driving abilities are correlated.

ICAP 2014, 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Paris, FRANCE, 08-/07/2014 - 13/07/2014; Executive function Parkinson disease - driving simulator

Cognitive functions could be affected by aging: speed processing, inhibition abilities, working memory, visuo-spatial abilities. Nevertheless, these functions could also be involved in comprehension of graphic information. In this paper we examined whether in public transports, animated graphic information instead of spoken information, could facilitate the comprehension of disruption messages. Such alternative, could improve public transport accessibility for elderly people by compensating cognitive decline due to aging. Fifty-two participants, two groups of young and older people, were asked to understand and compare series of train traffic disruption messages delivered via three different visual formats. The animated presentation was superior to the two static presentations conditions. This format facilitates the inhibition of irrelevant information by directing attention temporally and spatially to thematically relevant events. The animated presentation helped older participants to establish a spatio-temporal continuum between local events.

Graphic information displays have the potential to communicate public information in situations where normal announcement types are ineffective. This study used eye tracking techniques to analyze comprehension mechanism of event-related information on railway traffic disruptions presented via different graphic formats. One hundred thirteen participants were asked to understand and compare series of traffic disruption messages delivered via three purely visual formats. Animated displays were the most effective presentation type. Eye tracking data showed why an animation facilitates comprehension: it enhances processing strategies which provide the best condition for segmenting the causal chain of the events provided in the message.