This study investigates the cortical activation effects of the Infinity Walk and examines the influence of the foot’s overpronation and footwear on motor control. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a portable and user-friendly neuroimaging technique, was used to measure hemodynamical changes in six individuals with non-critical pronation degrees. Participants perform the Infinity Walk under various footwear conditions while wearing a fNIRS portable imaging device. Results indicate a consistent hemodynamic pattern in both hemispheres during the Infinity Walk, with no significant differences observed across subjects and footwear conditions in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), pre-motor area, the supplementary motor cortex (PMA & SMC), the primary motor cortex (PMC), and Wernicke’s area (WA). The impact of pronation and footwear on motor control remains inconclusive due to inconsistent hemodynamic patterns. Notably, the activation patterns in Broca’s area (BA) and the temporal gyrus (TG) differ significantly from other brain regions. The balanced hemodynamic responses in the bilateral hemispheres may be attributed to the Infinity Walk’s inherent walking pattern. These findings suggest that the Infinity Walk shows promise as a motor rehabilitation tool, as it promotes positive hemodynamic activation and exhibits similar activation patterns in both hemispheres.

The study investigates the impact on cortical activation during Single-leg Stance (SLS) and Dual-leg Stance (DLS) and its connection to skier balance performance, utilizing functional nearinfrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In this experiment, nine young skiers participated, performing both SLS and DLS on challenging surfaces while being monitored with fNIRS. We introduced an alpinespecific balance test called the Modified Hop Balance Test (MHBT), designed to assess the balance proficiency of skierâ\euro™s ability to control the upper bodyâ\euro™s vertical orientation during SLS. We employed a statistical model based on a functional mixed-effects framework to analyze hemodynamic response changes across various conditions. The results from the MHBT with open eyes (tests 1 and 2) revealed variations in stability between the left and right foot when moving forward, compared to lateral movements with the same foot (tests 5 and 7). Interestingly, skiers exhibited slightly better overall scores in lateral movements compared to straight-line ones, indicating their proficiency in maintaining stability during sideways skiing. SLS exhibited significantly higher cortical activation than DLS, with no significant difference observed between left and right-leg stances. It appears that tasks demanding greater motor control or higher complexity lead to increased cortical activation. For future research, a longitudinal study is needed to observe how training and corresponding neuromuscular efforts influence cortical activation over time. Furthermore, we hypothesize that as athletes improve their balance skills, the level of cortical activity will become more optimized and similar in both SLS and DLS conditions. Therefore, considering lateralized patterns of cortical activity could be valuable when interpreting postural deficiencies in cases of SLS.