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Aging effects on sensorimotor integration: a comparison of effector systems and feedback modalities
Christina R Bronson-Lowe1, Torrey M Loucks, Edward Ofori
1Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61820, USA. tloucks@illinois.edu
Journal of Motor Behavior
|April 25, 2013
Summary
Motor aging research often overlooks oral muscles. This study found increased force variability with age in both finger and lip control, with greater age-related differences in the lip, suggesting variability as an early motor function marker.
Area of Science:
- Motor control
- Aging research
- Sensory feedback
Background:
- Motor aging research primarily examines visuomotor effects in limbs.
- Limited studies compare different effectors (e.g., limbs vs. oral muscles) or feedback types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in steady fine force control across oral and manual effectors.
- To compare motor variability under visual and auditory feedback in young and older adults.
- To determine if aging affects lip force control differently than finger force control.
Main Methods:
- Compared steady fine force control in oral (lip) and manual (finger) effectors.
- Utilized visual and auditory feedback modalities.
- Recruited 13 young (19-23 years) and 13 older (60-77 years) participants.
Main Results:
- Force variability increased with age in both visuomotor and audiomotor tasks.
- Age-related differences in force variability were more pronounced in the lip than the finger.
- Increased variability was observed across both feedback modalities.
Conclusions:
- Increased force variability is a potential early indicator of motor function decline in aging.
- Motor control changes with age extend beyond the visuomotor system and limb musculature.
- Oral motor control may exhibit greater age-related variability compared to manual control.
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