Research Project Doctoral Candidate 02

Can superimposed sensorimotor variability in practice enhance motor (observational) learning in older adults?

 

Fellow

Sofía Avila Pérez

 

Host Institution

University of Münster, Department Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise

 

Supervisors

Prof. Claudia Voelcker-Rehage

Dr. Julian Rudisch

 

Project description

The objective of this research project is to systematically investigate how sources of sensorimotor variability in ecological constraints (e.g., changing environmental stimulations, perturbations, and feedback) and task constraints (e.g., variations in type of grasp or exerted force) can enhance motor (observational) learning in older adults (with and without cognitive impairment). In addition, it will be of interest how different practice interventions can improve performance stability and system variability. We expect that variable (observational) practice enhances task-space differentiation and leads to more stable performance and a better ability to adapt to changing task constraints than non-variable (observational) practice. We expect furthermore that practice effects are highly dependent on the initial state of the learner. The findings of this research project will be used to develop a practice framework (including observational learning) to improve visual-motor control in ageing populations with variations in ecological and task constraints.

 

(Planned) Secondments 

University of Bern 

Tel-Aviv University and Loewenstein Rehabilitation Medical Center

 

Project Updates

July 2025

Motor performance depends on the balance between adaptability and stability. In ageing and Parkinson’s disease (PD) this balance is often disturbed, leading to a reduced motor automaticity – the ability to perform movements without having to think about every step. As a result, movement becomes more variable and everyday activities, such as walking while carrying an object, become more difficult and less efficient.

To better understand gait dynamics in these populations, this project investigates how different factors, like the difficulty of a secondary motor task (e.g., carrying a cup that is filled to the rim) as well as the attention towards walking or the secondary task affects movement variability. The study will also explore how these effects differ for young adults, healthy older adults or those with additional deficits such as cognitive impairments or Parkinson’s Disease. Finally, the project will explore whether and how practicing under different and changing conditions can help people regain automaticity.

The results will contribute to a practical framework for improving motor control and adaptability in older adults and clinical populations, using targeted, variable training strategies tailored to their needs.

Current Progress (Study 1 – Young Adults):

We are currently collecting data from a group of young adults with high levels of gait automaticity. Participants are instructed to walk on a treadmill while holding a virtual cup of water. Rotation of the cup beyond a stability limit leads to virtual spilling of the liquid. On the one hand, we test different levels of difficulty (sensitivity of the stability limits). On the other hand, participants receive instructions to focus either on maintaining steady walking or on keeping their wrist stable to avoid spilling. This setup helps us examine how task demands and attentional focus affect motor control.

April 2026

We're excited to share an update from our fellow Sofía Avila Pérez, who is currently working on a systematic review to examine how dual-tasking influences gait variability in younger and older adults. These interactions can be captured through gait complexity, which reflects variability in walking patterns over time and is commonly assessed using nonlinear measures such as entropy (irregularity) and detrended fluctuation analysis (self-similarity). This systematic review is part of Sofia’s PhD research, which investigates gait variability in cognitive–motor interactions in aging and disease and aligns with the broader goals of the TReND network, which studies variability as a key feature of human behaviour. Understanding how dual-tasking affects gait variability is crucial, as it can inform the development of interventions to prevent falls and promote mobility in older adults. Sofia is currently working on the results and synthesis phase, including both the meta-analysis and the narrative synthesis. To ensure methodological rigor and ensure transparency the review was preregistered on the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/mn26f. The work is conducted in collaboration with Domenica Salazar M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Claudia Voelcker-Rehage, and Dr. Julian Rudisch from University of Münster.  

April 2026

Study 1 (Young Adults):
Data collection for Study 1 has been successfully completed. Participants performed a dual-task walking paradigm on a treadmill while holding a virtual cup of water, where task difficulty (stability limits) and attentional focus were systematically manipulated. We are currently in the process of analyzing the data.
In parallel, we are finalizing a systematic review, examining how dual-tasking influences gait variability in younger and older adults. These interactions are captured through gait complexity, reflecting variability in walking patterns over time, and are commonly assessed using nonlinear measures such as entropy (irregularity) and detrended fluctuation analysis (self-similarity).

Study 2 (Older Adults and PD):
Building on Study 1, the next phase of the project is currently being designed. Study 2 will transfer the established dual-task paradigm to healthy older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease, allowing for direct comparison across populations with differing levels of motor automaticity. Furthermore, this phase will introduce a targeted practice intervention to examine whether variable training can enhance motor learning, improve performance stability, and support adaptive control in ageing and clinical populations.