Neural Substrates Underlying Adaptations in Manual Dexterity of Older Adults
University of Colorado, Boulder
Summary
Age-related declines in motor function can compromise independence and quality of life. This project examines how practice and somatosensory stimulation reshape the neural control of hand muscles in older adults, leveraging neuroplasticity to enhance dexterity. By identifying modifiable neural mechanisms that underlie improved motor performance, this research lays the groundwork for targeted, non-invasive interventions that can be translated into clinical and community settings to support healthy aging and functional independence.
Description
Managing fine motor function is essential for independence and quality of life in older adults. However, the neural mechanisms underlying age-related declines in manual dexterity remain poorly understood. Traditional models of motor control suggest that the nervous system coordinates movement through shared motor commands across muscles-so-called "motor modules" or "muscle synergies". Yet, emerging evidence reveals that synaptic inputs to motor neurons can vary even within a single muscle, challenging this muscle-level concept and prompting a shift toward more a granular, motor-unit level fram…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 54–89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Community-dwelling men and women who are 54-89 years of age and able to give fully informed consent; able to read, write, and speak English to ensure safe participation in the project; and able to arrange own transportation to Boulder campus. Exclusion Criteria: Cognitive impairment, major psychiatric condition, or unstable depressive disorder that would influence the ability to understand the study and cooperate fully in the proposed protocols; any progressive neurological, muscular, cardiovascular, or skeletal disorder that limits participation, such as (but not limite…
Interventions
- BehavioralTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Force-steadiness training will be performance either without (sham) or paired with TENS.
- BehavioralFamiliarization
Participants will perform 25 trials of the Grooved Pegboard Test
Location
- University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado