Cortical control of unilateral simple movement in healthy aging

Inuggi, Alberto; Amato, Ninfa; Magnani, Giuseppe; González-Rosa, Javier J.; Chieffo, Raffaella; Comi, Giancarlo; Leocani, Letizia

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.02.020

Cited by 23 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Given the transience of the topographical reorganization and the delayed change in movement thresholds in young adults, and the differences in learning time courses of young and aged animals, it is impossible to rule out that our failure to see reorganization of the aged motor map was due to mapping after the changes had already occurred, or that they were still to come. Alternatively, given that motor learning in older humans involves more non-primary motor and non-motor areas compared to young adults, as discussed above, as well as evidence from the human literature showing dysfunction of the aged primary motor cortex (Inuggi et al, 2011; Siedler et al, 2010; Todd et al, 2010), it could be that the motor cortex does not play as large a role in motor learning in aged animals as it does it young animals. Other brain areas that are candidates for motor skill learning-induced plasticity may include the somatosensory cortex, striatum, thalamus, internal capsule, cerebellum, spinal cord, and cognitive areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skill learning induced plasticity of motor cortical representations is time and age-dependent

Tennant

Adkins

Scalco

et al. 2012

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

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Movement representations in the motor cortex can reorganize to support motor skill learning during young adulthood. However, little is known about how motor representations change during aging or whether their change is influenced by continued practice of a skill after it is learned. We used intracortical microstimulation to characterize the organization of the forelimb motor cortex in young and aged C57/BL6 mice after short (2-4 weeks) or long (8 weeks) durations of training on a skilled reaching task or control procedures. In young mice, a short duration of reach training increased the area of proximal forelimb movement representations at the expense of distal representations. Following a longer training duration, ratios of proximal to distal movements returned to baseline, even with ongoing practice and skill maintenance. However, lingering changes were evident in thresholds for eliciting distal forelimb movements, which declined over the longer training period. In aged mice, movement representations and movement thresholds failed to change after either duration of training. Furthermore, there was an age-related loss of digit representations and performance decrements on other sensorimotor tests. Nevertheless, in quantitative measures of reaching success, aged mice learned and performed the skilled reaching task at least as well as younger mice. These results indicate that experience-driven topographical reorganization of motor cortex varies with age, as well as time, and is partially dissociable from behavioral performance. They also support an enduring capacity to learn new manual skills during aging, even as more youthful forms of cortical plasticity and sensorimotor function are lost.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skill learning induced plasticity of motor cortical representations is time and age-dependent

Tennant

Adkins

Scalco

et al. 2012

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

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“…no difference was found between groups in self-paced movements, and, if any, a non-significant tendency was found toward recording larger BP in older than younger subjects. More recently, significant over-activation in older subjects was found in the time interval corresponding to the NS' and the MP components (Inuggi et al, 2011), but also lack of difference between older and younger subjects in the BP was reported (Golob et al, 2005).…”

Section: Preparatory Brain Activitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Beyond the “Bereitschaftspotential”: Action preparation behind cognitive functions

Russo

Berchicci

Bozzacchi

et al. 2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

131

102

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“…Conversely, evidence for a positive effect of this cortical hyperactivation on motor functions is less clear. Functional neuroimaging (Riecker et al, 2006) and EEG (Inuggi et al, 2011) studies demonstrated that this bilateral cortical activation was still characterized by reduced motor abilities in aging. These results suggest that the more symmetrical motor cortex activity observed in physiological aging would not be due to a compensatory mechanism (Inuggi et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Functional neuroimaging (Riecker et al, 2006) and EEG (Inuggi et al, 2011) studies demonstrated that this bilateral cortical activation was still characterized by reduced motor abilities in aging. These results suggest that the more symmetrical motor cortex activity observed in physiological aging would not be due to a compensatory mechanism (Inuggi et al, 2011). Therefore, the functional modulations revealed in motor cortices during physiological aging are likely to be related to a loss of balance between excitatory and inhibitory circuits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-Related Changes in Motor Cortical Representation and Interhemispheric Interactions: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study

Coppi

Houdayer

Chieffo

et al. 2014

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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To better understand the physiological mechanisms responsible for the differential motor cortex functioning in aging, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation to investigate interhemispheric interactions and cortical representation of hand muscles in the early phase of physiological aging, correlating these data with participants’ motor abilities. Right-handed healthy subjects were divided into a younger group (n = 15, mean age 25.4 ± 1.9 years old) and an older group (n = 16, mean age 61.1 ± 5.1 years old). Activity of the bilateral abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) was recorded. Ipsilateral silent period (ISP) was measured in both APBs. Cortical maps of APB and ADM were measured bilaterally. Mirror movements (MM) were recorded during thumb abductions. Motor abilities were tested using Nine Hole Peg Test, finger tapping, and grip strength. ISP was reduced in the older group on both sides, in terms of duration (p = 0.025), onset (p = 0.029), and area (p = 0.008). Resting motor threshold did not differ between groups. APB and ADM maps were symmetrical in the younger group, but were reduced on the right compared to the left hemisphere in the older group (p = 0.008). The APB map of the right hemisphere was reduced in the older group compared to the younger (p = 0.021). Older subjects showed higher frequency of MM and worse motor abilities (p < 0.001). The reduction of right ISP area correlated significantly with the worsening of motor performances. Our results showed decreased interhemispheric interactions in the early processes of physiological aging and decreased cortical muscles representation over the non-dominant hemisphere. The decreased ISP and increased frequency of MM suggest a reduction of transcallosal inhibition. These data demonstrate that early processes of normal aging are marked by a dissociation of motor cortices, characterized, at least, by a decline of the non-dominant hemisphere, reinforcing the hypothesis of the right hemi-aging model.

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Cortical control of unilateral simple movement in healthy aging

Cited by 23 publications

References 52 publications

Skill learning induced plasticity of motor cortical representations is time and age-dependent

Skill learning induced plasticity of motor cortical representations is time and age-dependent

Beyond the “Bereitschaftspotential”: Action preparation behind cognitive functions

Age-Related Changes in Motor Cortical Representation and Interhemispheric Interactions: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study

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