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Journal article
Investigating the effects of age and conditioning stimulation intensity on SMA-M1 connectivity in younger, middle-aged, and older adults
European journal of applied physiology
2025
PMID: 40689955
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate bilateral motor control and connectivity between supplementary motor area (SMA) and primary motor cortex (M1) in younger, middle-aged, and older healthy adults.
Methods
32 younger (mean age 22.8 ± 5.3 years), 18 middle-aged (47.6 ± 6.5 years), and 23 older (75.8 ± 6.7 years) adults were tested. Bilateral motor control was assessed using the Purdue pegboard. Dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to measure SMA–M1 connectivity at different conditioning stimulation intensities.
Results
Older adults had significantly poorer motor performance than younger and middle-aged in all pegboard subtests. Notably, there were no conclusive differences in motor performance between younger and middle-aged adults. There was no conclusive evidence supporting age-related and intensity-related differences in SMA–M1 connectivity between younger, middle-aged, and older adults. There was also no conclusive evidence to support clear associations between SMA–M1 connectivity and bilateral motor control.
Conclusion
Age-related declines in bilateral motor functioning was found in older, but not middle-aged adults. The bilateral motor functioning of middle-aged adults is more young-like than old-like. The lack of conclusive age- and intensity-related differences in SMA–M1 connectivity, and lack of conclusive association with bilateral motor performance, might be due to high inter-individual variability in SMA–M1 connectivity. Potential factors contributing to this variability include SMA and M1 morphometry, the structural connectivity between these regions, and the localisation of SMA.
Details
- Title
- Investigating the effects of age and conditioning stimulation intensity on SMA-M1 connectivity in younger, middle-aged, and older adults
- Authors/Creators
- Jane Tan - Centre for Healthy Ageing, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia. jane.tan@murdoch.edu.auGrant Rowe - Discipline of Psychology, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, WA, 6150, AustraliaRohan Puri - University of TasmaniaMerrilee Needham - Murdoch University, Personalised Medicine CentreMichelle Marneweck - University of OregonShivani Radia - Murdoch UniversityAnn-Maree Vallence - Murdoch University, School of Psychology
- Publication Details
- European journal of applied physiology
- Publisher
- SPRINGER
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- Fiona Wood Foundation / Fiona Wood Foundation Bryant Stokes Neurological Fund / Bryant Stokes Neurological Fund DE190100694 / Australian Research Council
- Identifiers
- 991005796262607891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology; Centre for Healthy Ageing; Health Futures Institute; Personalised Medicine Centre; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.82 Gait & Posture
- 1.82.811 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Web Of Science research areas
- Physiology
- Sport Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine