Wolters, N.E. (2017) Neural plasticity of resting-state networks as a result of skill acquisition, consolidation, and transfer after unilateral visuomotor practice is age dependent: an electroencephalography study. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Despite age-related functional declines, healthy old adults (≥ 65 years) can acquire new motor skills. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this process are yet unclear. Neuroimaging techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) can provide insights. This thesis examined the age-related brain mechanisms related to acquiring, retaining and transferring a visuomotor skill in young (n=24) and older (n=24) subjects using resting-state electroencephalography (rs-EEG) phase slope index (PSI). Pre- and post-tests of the visuomotor task were performed with both hands. Additionally, rs-EEG are recorded before and after a 20 minute visuomotor practice (MP group) or a period of rest (control group) with the dominant right hand. A retention test (day 2) examined whether there were lasting effects of short motor practice and if such changes were accompanied by changes in rs-EEG. The results showed that healthy old were equally able to acquire the new skill compared with young adults. PSI revealed changes related to magnitude of skill acquisition from left primary motor cortex (M1) to left dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) and from left PMd to supplementary motor area (SMA) in young adults and from left M1 to left PMd, right primary sensory cortex (S1) to right M1, and right prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) to right M1 in older adults. PSI changes from right PMd to SMA related to magnitude of immediate transfer and changes from right S1 to left S1 related to magnitude of consolidated transfer were found in old adults. In younger adults PSI changes from right M1 to left M1 and right M1 to right S1 was related to consolidated transfer. In conclusion, a less lateralized and more frontal connectivity pattern was found in older adults compared to young adults as a compensatory mechanism with skill acquisition but not motor memory consolidation and interlimb transfer.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Hortobágyi, prof. dr. T. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 11 May 2022 10:18 |
| Last Modified: | 11 May 2022 10:18 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3284 |
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