Age differences in electrocortical dynamics during uneven terrain walking

Chang Liu ^1,2, Erika M Pliner ^1,3, Jacob Salminen ¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
²Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
³Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
⁴Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁵Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁶Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁷Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada.
⁸Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁹Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
¹⁰Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
¹¹Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
¹²Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
¹³McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

⁰Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

Imaging Neuroscience (cambridge, Mass.) +

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December 1, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Older adults show increased gait variability on uneven terrain and reduced brain activity modulation compared to younger adults. This suggests decreased cortical flexibility and reliance on visual processing with age.

Area Of Science

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Biomechanics

Background

Gait control declines with age, particularly on challenging surfaces.
Mobile brain imaging using electroencephalography (EEG) offers insights into aging-related mobility changes.

Purpose Of The Study

To compare electrocortical activity during uneven terrain walking between young and older adults.
To investigate age-related differences in gait variability and neural responses to terrain difficulty.

Main Methods

High-density EEG recorded brain activity in 31 young and 71 older adults walking on a treadmill with varying unevenness.
Gait parameters like step duration and sacral excursion were analyzed.
Changes in alpha and beta band power were examined across different terrain difficulties.

Main Results

Older adults showed greater increases in gait variability (step duration, sacral excursion) with terrain unevenness.
Both age groups exhibited widespread brain activity changes, especially in alpha and beta bands, on uneven terrain.
Younger adults had greater reductions in parieto-occipital alpha and beta power with increasing terrain difficulty than older adults.

Conclusions

Older adults exhibit increased gait variability and reduced modulation of parieto-occipital brain activity on uneven terrain.
This suggests diminished cortical network flexibility and potentially a higher baseline reliance on visual processing in older adults.
Age-related changes in neural dynamics impact the ability to adapt gait to complex environments.

Keywords:

EEG balance electrocortical uneven terrain walking speed