Journal article
Reduced SMA‐M1 connectivity in older than younger adults measured using dual‐site TMS
European Journal of Neuroscience, Early View
2021
Abstract
With advancing age comes a decline in voluntary movement control. Growing evidence suggests that an age-related decline in effective connectivity between the supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex (SMA-M1) might play a role in an age-related decline of bilateral motor control. Dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to measure SMA-M1 effective connectivity. In the current study, we aimed to (1) replicate previous dual-site TMS research showing reduced SMA-M1 connectivity in older than younger adults and (2) examine whether SMA-M1 connectivity is associated with bilateral motor control in independent samples of younger (n = 30) and older adults (n = 30). SMA-M1 connectivity was measured using dual-site TMS with interstimulus intervals of 6, 7 and 8 ms, and bilateral motor control was measured using the Purdue Pegboard, Four Square Step Test and the Timed Up and Go task. Findings from this study showed that SMA-M1 connectivity was reduced in older than in younger adults, suggesting that the direct excitatory connections between SMA and M1 had reduced efficacy in older than younger adults. Furthermore, greater SMA-M1 connectivity was associated with better bimanual motor control in older adults. Thus, SMA-M1 connectivity in older adults might underpin, in part, the age-related decline in bilateral motor control. These findings contribute to our understanding of age-related declines in motor control and provide a physiological basis for the development of interventions to improve bimanual and bilateral motor control.
Details
- Title
- Reduced SMA‐M1 connectivity in older than younger adults measured using dual‐site TMS
- Authors/Creators
- B.K. Rurak (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityJ.P. Rodrigues (Author/Creator) - Hollywood Private HospitalB.D. Power (Author/Creator) - Hollywood Private HospitalP.D. Drummond (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityA.M. Vallence (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- European Journal of Neuroscience, Early View
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Identifiers
- 991005543620607891
- Copyright
- © 2021 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Allied Health; Centre for Healthy Ageing; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics; Health Futures Institute
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.82 Gait & Posture
- 1.82.811 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Web Of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- ESI research areas
- Neuroscience & Behavior