Citation

Levin O, Cuypers K, Netz Y, Thijs H, Nuttin B, Helsen WF, Meesen RLJ. Neurosci. Lett. 2011; 487(1): 53-57.

Affiliation

Laboratory for Motor Control, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Perception and Performance, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.neulet.2010.09.072

PMID

20932881

Abstract

Age-related declines in central processing may delay the facilitation of corticospinal (CS) tracts that underlie emergence of voluntary responses to external stimuli. To explore this effect, single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the left motor cortex at different latencies from the go-signal (auditory tone) during a simple reaction time (SRT) task with the right or left thumb [i.e. right (RHM) or left hand move (LHM)]. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the right abductor pollicis brevis (APB) were recorded from eleven healthy right-handed participants (aged 22-65; six young adults and five old adults). Both age groups showed significant facilitation of CS excitability approximately 100-120ms from the onset of the go-signal in the RHM SRT that occurred before the onset of EMG voluntary burst, with no evidence for motor slowing in old adults. Old adults demonstrated a significant facilitation of MEPs in the time that preceded the go-signal for RHM SRT and a marked depression of CS excitability in preparation for the LHM SRT that was sustained up to 80ms after the onset of the go-signal. Both effects were not seen in young adults. While the small number of participants may hinder the generality of the present observations, this pilot study suggest for the first time that old adults implemented selective tuning of CS excitability prior to the onset of the go command to speed up their response generation.

Language: en