Effects of Cognitive Fatigue on Gait

The goal of this study is to comprehend how mental fatigue could affect human gait. The main questions to answer are: * Does mental fatigue change how people walk? * How long does it take for walking patterns to return to normal after mental fatigue sets in? * What role do constructs like boredom, sleepiness, and motivation play in this relationship? To achieve this, participants will take part in the experiment, split into two sessions: Day 1 (online, about 25 minutes): Practice session. Participants will practice a computer task that will be used to induce mental fatigue in the next session. Day 2 (in-person, about 1.5 to 2 hours): Participants will wear several wearable sensors: motion sensors on their legs, feet, and back, sensor insoles in their shoes, a cap that measures brain activity, and glasses that track eye movement. After sensor placement, participants will walk in a straight line for 10 meters to measure their normal walking pattern. They will then complete a 32-minute computer task designed to induce mental fatigue. Afterward, participants will walk in a straight line for 10 meters again, rest for 3 minutes, and repeat this walk-and-rest cycle 3 more times. Participants will also answer short questions about how tired, bored, and alert they feel throughout the session.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18-60 years. * Neurotypical individuals with no self-reported history of neurological or cognitive disorders. * Able to walk independently, without an assistive device. * Fluent in English. * Recruitment will aim for gender balance across the sample. * For Day 2, participants must arrive with clean, dry hair, free of styling products (e.g., gels, oils), to ensure adequate EEG electrode contact. Exclusion Criteria: * Outside the age range of 18-60 years. * Self-reported history of neurological or cognitive disorders (e.g., epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke/traumatic brain injury). * Any musculoskeletal condition or injury affecting normal gait. * Use of an assistive device for walking (e.g., cane, walker, brace). * Self-reported photosensitive epilepsy or seizure disorder triggered by screen/visual stimuli. * Non-English speaking. * Day 2 restrictions: less than 6 hours of sleep the night before; caffeine within 2 hours of the session; alcohol within 24 hours of the session.