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Age effects on sensorimotor predictions: What drives increased tactile suppression during reaching?
Lena Klever1,2, Dimitris Voudouris1, Katja Fiehler1,2
1Experimental Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
Journal of Vision
|August 20, 2019
Summary
Older adults exhibit stronger tactile suppression during movement, linked to executive functions, not just age. This sensory attenuation is modulated by cognitive load but not baseline sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Tactile suppression, the attenuation of touch during movement, is explained by the forward model of motor control.
- Aging may enhance sensorimotor predictions, leading to increased tactile suppression, but underlying mechanisms require clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in tactile suppression during reaching movements.
- To explore how cognitive processes modulate tactile suppression and its age-related effects.
Main Methods:
- Compared tactile suppression during reaching in younger (18-27 years) and older (59-78 years) adults.
- Assessed the impact of cognitive task demands on tactile suppression.
- Correlated suppression magnitude with executive capacities and baseline sensitivity.
Main Results:
- Confirmed robust tactile suppression during reaching movements.
- Observed significantly stronger tactile suppression in older adults compared to younger adults.
- Found that cognitive task demands amplified suppression but did not alter age differences; stronger suppression correlated with lower executive functions across all participants.
Conclusions:
- Aging alters the balance between sensory signals and sensorimotor predictions during movement.
- Executive functions play a critical role in individual differences in tactile suppression, independent of age-related changes.
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