Age and Interlimb Coordination Complexity Modulate Oscillatory Spectral Dynamics and Large-scale Functional Connectivity. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Hoornweder, Sybren; Mora, Diego Andrés Blanco; Depestele, Siel; Frieske, Joana; van Dun, Kim; Cuypers, Koen; Verstraelen, Stefanie; Meesen, Raf
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 496(2022)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: EEG electroencephalography -- ERD event-related desynchronization -- ERS event-related synchronization -- ERSP event-related spectral perturbation -- fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging -- GLMM generalized linear mixed model -- LMM linear mixed model -- SD standard deviation -- tACS transcranial alternating current stimulation; electroencephalography (EEG) -- interlimb coordination -- spectral analyses -- functional connectivity -- aging -- time-frequency; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Highlights: Complex interlimb movements are most affected in older adults. Elevated beta desynchronization in older adults seems to reflect a compensatory mechanism. Large-scale alpha functional connectivity is lower in older versus younger adults. Large-scale theta connectivity increases with task complexity, irrespective of age. Abstract: Interlimb coordination deteriorates as a result of aging. Due to its ubiquity in daily life, a greater understanding of the underlying neurophysiological changes is required. Here, we combined electroencephalography time–frequency spectral power and functional connectivity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of the neural dynamics underlying the age-related deterioration of interlimb coordination involving all four limbs. Theta, alpha and beta oscillations in the frontal, central and parietal regions were analyzed in twenty younger (18–30 years) and nineteen older adults (65–78 years) during a complex interlimb reaction time task. Reaction time was significantly higher in older adults across all conditions, and the discrepancy between both age groups was largest in the most complex movement condition. Older adults demonstrated enhanced beta event-related desynchronization (i.e., the attenuation of beta power), which further increased along with task complexity and was positively linked to behavioral performance. Theta functional connectivity between frontal, central and parietal regions generally increased with movement complexity, irrespective of age group. In general, frontoparietal alpha band functional connectivity tended to be reduced in older versus younger adults, although these contrasts did not survive multiple comparison corrections. Overall, spectral results suggest that enhanced beta desynchronization in older adults reflects a successful compensatory mechanism to cope with increased difficulty during complex interlimb coordination. Functional connectivity results suggest that theta and alpha band connectivity are prone to respectively task- and age-related modulations. Future work could target these spectral and functional connectivity dynamics through noninvasive brain stimulation to potentially improve interlimb coordination in older adults.