Objective

We examined the impact of increasing cognitive load on climbing performance and the impact of climbing on concurrent cognitive task performance.

Background

Generally when two tasks are performed simultaneously performance of one or both suffers relative to performance of each alone. Such dual task decrement is not confined to competing cognitive tasks, but has also been found when one task involves demanding physical activity.

Method

Skilled climbers performed a traverse climb alone and in combination with low and high cognitive load counting tasks, which were also performed alone.

Results

In more realistic physical settings, physical and cognitive tasks will interfere, unlike what some literature using laboratory physical tasks may indicate.

Conclusion

Compared to single task (climb only) performance concurrent counting and climbing resulted in impaired performance. However, climbers appeared to prioritize climbing over cognitive task performance.

Application

The results and this program of research have implications for occupations that involve concurrent demanding physical activity and cognitive task performance.

Précis

High risk, physical tasks in real world conditions appear to hinder cognitive performance more so than low-risk physical tasks carried out in laboratory conditions.

中文翻译：

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认知负荷对攀登的影响以及攀登对认知表现的影响

目标

我们研究了增加认知负荷对攀爬表现的影响以及攀爬对并发认知任务表现的影响。

背景

通常，当同时执行两项任务时，一项或两项任务的性能相对于每个任务的单独性能会受到影响。这种双重任务递减不仅限于竞争性认知任务，而且在一项任务涉及需要体力活动时也被发现。

方法

熟练的登山者单独执行横向攀登，并结合低和高认知负荷计数任务，这些任务也是单独执行的。

结果

在更现实的身体环境中，身体和认知任务会相互干扰，这与一些使用实验室身体任务的文献可能表明的不同。

结论

与单一任务（仅攀爬）性能相比，并发计数和攀爬导致性能受损。然而，登山者似乎优先考虑攀登而不是认知任务表现。

应用

研究结果和这项研究计划对涉及并发要求的体育活动和认知任务表现的职业有影响。

精确

与在实验室条件下进行的低风险体力任务相比，现实世界条件下的高风险体力任务似乎更能阻碍认知能力。