Age-dependent changes in the neural correlates of force modulation: an fMRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Aging Research

Background:

• Age-related changes in cortical motor networks are widespread.
• The contribution of brain regions during motor tasks varies with age and task parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related influences on motor system activity during increasingly forceful hand grips.
• To determine if older adults exhibit altered brain activation patterns during motor tasks.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
• Forty healthy, right-handed volunteers performed repetitive isometric hand grips.
• Participants performed the task with each hand in separate sessions.

Main Results:

• No age-related changes in contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) BOLD signal size or shape were observed.
• Older subjects showed reduced ipsilateral M1 deactivation.
• Task-related activity positively correlated with force output, but this was less pronounced in older adults in several motor regions.

Conclusions:

• Reduced ability to modulate motor network activity with increasing force may contribute to age-related motor decline.
• Age impacts the neural control of motor tasks, particularly in modulating activity within specific cortical regions.