Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-5621
Authors: Berger, Alisa
Steinberg, Fabian
Thomas, Fabian
Doppelmayr, Michael
Title: Neural correlates of age-related changes in precise grip force regulation: a combined EEG-fNIRS study
Online publication date: 2-Feb-2021
Year of first publication: 2020
Language: english
Abstract: Motor control is associated with suppression of oscillatory activity in alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (12–30 Hz) ranges and elevation of oxygenated hemoglobin levels in motor-cortical areas. Aging leads to changes in oscillatory and hemodynamic brain activity and impairments in motor control. However, the relationship between age-related changes in motor control and brain activity is not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate age-related and task-complexity-related changes in grip force control and the underlying oscillatory and hemodynamic activity. Sixteen younger [age (mean ± SD) = 25.4 ± 1.9, 20–30 years] and 16 older (age = 56.7 ± 4.7, 50–70 years) healthy men were asked to use a power grip to perform six trials each of easy and complex force tracking tasks (FTTs) with their right dominant hand in a randomized within-subject design. Grip force control was assessed using a sensor-based device. Brain activity in premotor and primary motor areas of both hemispheres was assessed by electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Older adults showed significantly higher inaccuracies and higher hemodynamic activity in both FTTs than did young adults. Correlations between grip force control owing to task complexity and beta activity were different in the contralateral premotor cortex (PMC) between younger and older adults. Collectively, these findings suggest that aging leads to impairment of grip force control and an increase in hemodynamic activity independent of task complexity. EEG beta oscillations may represent a task-specific neurophysiological marker for age-related decline in complex grip force control and its underlying compensation strategies. Further EEG-fNIRS studies are necessary to determine neurophysiological markers of dysfunctions underlying age-related motor disabilities for the improvement of individual diagnosis and therapeutic approaches.
DDC: 150 Psychologie
150 Psychology
796 Sport
796 Athletic and outdoor sports and games
Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department: FB 02 Sozialwiss., Medien u. Sport
Place: Mainz
ROR: https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-5621
Version: Published version
Publication type: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License: CC BY
Information on rights of use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
Journal: Frontiers in aging neuroscience
12
Pages or article number: 594810
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Publisher place: Lausanne
Issue date: 2020
ISSN: 1663-4365
Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2020.594810
Publisher DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.594810
Appears in collections:JGU-Publikationen

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