Running Title: Walking to Music and in Silence on a Treadmill

The Effect of a 4 Week Auditory-motor Coupling Intervention on Walking, Information Processing Speed and Fatigue in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: Three Armed Pilot Intervention

This work is embedded in the context of auditory-motor coupling, which entails the engagement of two systems; the interaction between the music (or repetitive auditory stimuli) and a walking individual (repetitive movements of footfall). In previous studies, the investigators have shown that synchronising steps to beats in music have shown to be feasible in persons with multiple sclerosis, showing increase of step frequency and reduced perceived fatigue[1, 2]. In this current work, The investigators expand previous findings with a pilot intervention study, to investigate if synchronisation is necessary to improve cognitive and motor functions.

The proposed experiment includes 30 participants, randomised to three arms of a pilot intervention (10 participants per arm). With the intention of a further case-study analysis, the inestigators request to include 4 additional participants (2 PwMS with cognitive impairment, and 2 persons with cerebellar lesion) to only follow the intervention arm 1.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A diagnosis of MS if >1,
• no relapses >1 month,
• ability to walk for 12minutes,
• ability to walk independently on a treadmill
• walking speed between 0.8-1.2m/s.

Exclusion Criteria:

• amusia,
• deafness,
• cognitive impairment hindering understanding of study instructions,
• pregnancy.