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Age-related differences in corticospinal excitability and inhibition during coordination of upper and lower limbs
Citation
Fujiyama, H and Hinder, MR and Schmidt, MW and Garry, MI and Summers, JJ, Age-related differences in corticospinal excitability and inhibition during coordination of upper and lower limbs, Neurobiology of Aging, 33, (7) pp. 1484.e1-1484.e14. ISSN 0197-4580 (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Elsevier Inc
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.12.019
Abstract
The ability to coordinate upper and lower limbs—a prerequisite for many everyday activities—is known to decline with age. Here we
report 2 experiments in which transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess corticospinal excitatory and inhibitory processes
in younger and older adults during cyclical hand-foot movements. In experiment 1, motor evoked potentials (MEP) and silent period (SP)
durations were measured from the active right extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscle while it executed rhythmic oscillations in conjunction
with the right or left foot. Younger adults exhibited increased SP with ipsilateral limb combinations and decreased SP with contralateral limb
combinations, relative to a baseline hand only condition. Strikingly, older adults exhibited a reduced SP when ipsilateral limbs moved in
opposite directions. This effect was found to be most pronounced in those older adults who exhibited poor coordination performance,
suggesting that the inability to regulate inhibitory processes may underlie age-related degradation of task performance. Experiment 2
examined motor evoked potentials and SP duration in the left extensor carpi radialis which maintained a tonic contraction while the
coordination task was undertaken by the right arm and right or left foot. For younger adults, coordination of ipsilateral limbs was
accompanied by increased inhibition in the ipsilateral motor cortex than during the coordination of contralateral limbs. No differences in
SP between conditions were noted for the older adults. In summary, older adults’ reduced ability to coordinate upper and lower limbs may
be related to the capacity to regulate inhibitory function in both hemispheres. This study suggests for the first time a direct link between
age-related differences in interlimb coordination and the control of corticospinal inhibitory processes.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | aging, motor control, transcranial magnetic stimulation |
Research Division: | Psychology |
Research Group: | Cognitive and computational psychology |
Research Field: | Sensory processes, perception and performance |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in psychology |
UTAS Author: | Fujiyama, H (Dr Hakuei Fujiyama) |
UTAS Author: | Hinder, MR (Associate Professor Mark Hinder) |
UTAS Author: | Schmidt, MW (Mr Matthew Schmidt) |
UTAS Author: | Garry, MI (Associate Professor Michael Garry) |
UTAS Author: | Summers, JJ (Professor Jeffery Summers) |
ID Code: | 75842 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Deposited By: | Psychology |
Deposited On: | 2012-02-17 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-05 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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