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Yordanova J, Falkenstein M, Kolev V. Aging alters functional connectivity of motor theta networks during sensorimotor reactions. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 158:137-148. [PMID: 38219403 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.12.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Both cognitive and primary motor networks alter with advancing age in humans. The networks activated in response to external environmental stimuli supported by theta oscillations remain less well explored. The present study aimed to characterize the effects of aging on the functional connectivity of response-related theta networks during sensorimotor tasks. METHODS Electroencephalographic signals were recorded in young and middle-to-older age adults during three tasks performed in two modalities, auditory and visual: a simple reaction task, a Go-NoGo task, and a choice-reaction task. Response-related theta oscillations were computed. The phase-locking value (PLV) was used to analyze the spatial synchronization of primary motor and motor control theta networks. RESULTS Performance was overall preserved in older adults. Independently of the task, aging was associated with reorganized connectivity of the contra-lateral primary motor cortex. In younger adults, it was synchronized with motor control regions (intra-hemispheric premotor/frontal and medial frontal). In older adults, it was only synchronized with intra-hemispheric sensorimotor regions. CONCLUSIONS Motor theta networks of older adults manifest a functional decoupling between the response-generating motor cortex and motor control regions, which was not modulated by task variables. The overall preserved performance in older adults suggests that the increased connectivity within the sensorimotor network is associated with an excessive reliance on sensorimotor feedback during movement execution compensating for a deficient cognitive regulation of motor regions during sensorimotor reactions. SIGNIFICANCE New evidence is provided for the reorganization of motor networks during sensorimotor reactions already at the transition from middle to old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Yordanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | | | - Vasil Kolev
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Ding H, Seusing N, Nasseroleslami B, Anwar AR, Strauss S, Lotze M, Grothe M, Groppa S, Muthuraman M. The role of ipsilateral motor network in upper limb movement. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1199338. [PMID: 37465697 PMCID: PMC10351419 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1199338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The execution of voluntary movements is primarily governed by the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the moving limb. Previous research indicates that the ipsilateral motor network, comprising the primary motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), and premotor cortex (PM), plays a crucial role in the planning and execution of limb movements. However, the precise functions of this network and its interplay in different task contexts have yet to be fully understood. Twenty healthy right-handed participants (10 females, mean age 26.1 ± 4.6 years) underwent functional MRI scans while performing biceps brachii representations such as bilateral, unilateral flexion, and bilateral flexion-extension. Ipsilateral motor evoked potentials (iMEPs) were obtained from the identical set of participants in a prior study using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting M1 while employing the same motor tasks. The voxel time series was extracted based on the region of interest (M1, SMA, ventral PM and dorsal PM). Directed functinal connectivity was derived from the extracted time series using time-resolved partial directed coherence. We found increased connectivity from left-PMv to both sides M1, as well as right-PMv to both sides SMA, in unilateral flexion compared to bilateral flexion. Connectivity from left M1 to left-PMv, and left-SMA to right-PMd, also increased in both unilateral flexion and bilateral flexion-extension compared to bilateral flexion. However, connectivity between PMv and right-M1 to left-PMd decreased during bilateral flexion-extension compared to unilateral flexion. Additionally, during bilateral flexion-extension, the connectivity from right-M1 to right-SMA had a negative relationship with the area ratio of iMEP in the dominant side. Our results provide corroborating evidence for prior research suggesting that the ipsilateral motor network is implicated in the voluntary movements and underscores its involvement in cognitive processes such as movement planning and coordination. Moreover, ipsilateral connectivity from M1 to SMA on the dominant side can modulate the degree of ipsilateral M1 activation during bilateral antagonistic contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ding
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nelly Seusing
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Bahman Nasseroleslami
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Sebastian Strauss
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Lotze
- Functional Imaging Unit, Center for Diagnostic Radiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Grothe
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sergiu Groppa
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Pauwels L, Gooijers J. The Role of the Corpus Callosum (Micro)Structure in Bimanual Coordination: A Literature Review Update. J Mot Behav 2023; 55:525-537. [PMID: 37336516 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2023.2221985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of callosal white matter is crucial for understanding the relationship between brain structure and bimanual motor function. An earlier literature review established this. With advancements in neuroimaging and data modeling, we aim to provide an update on the existing literature. Firstly, we highlight new CC parcellation approaches, such as functional MRI- and atlas-informed tractography and in vivo histology. Secondly, we elaborate on recent insights into the CC's role in bimanual coordination, drawing evidence from studies on healthy young and older adults, patients and training-related callosal plasticity. We also reflect on progress in the field and propose future perspectives to inspire research on the underlying mechanisms of structural-functional interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Pauwels
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Movement Sciences, Movement control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Gooijers
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Movement Sciences, Movement control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
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Kang N, Ko DK, Cauraugh JH. Bimanual motor impairments in older adults: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. EXCLI JOURNAL 2022; 21:1068-1083. [PMID: 36381648 PMCID: PMC9650695 DOI: 10.17179/excli2022-5236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This updated systematic review and meta-analysis further examined potential effects of aging on bimanual movements. Forty-seven qualified studies that compared bimanual motor performances between elderly and younger adults were included in this meta-analysis. Moderator variable analyses additionally determined whether altered bimanual motor performances in older adults were different based on the task types (i.e., symmetry vs. asymmetry vs. complex) or outcome measures (i.e., accuracy vs. variability vs. movement time). The random effects model meta-analysis on 80 comparisons from 47 included studies revealed significant negative overall effects indicating more bimanual movement impairments in the elderly adults than younger adults. Moderator variable analyses found that older adults showed more deficits in asymmetrical bimanual movement tasks than symmetrical and complex tasks, and the bimanual movement impairments in the elderly adults included less accurate, more variable, and greater movement execution time than younger adults. These findings suggest that rehabilitation programs for improving motor actions in older adults are necessary to focus on functional recovery of interlimb motor control including advanced motor performances as well coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyeonju Kang
- Division of Sport Science, Health Promotion Center, & Sport Science Institute, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea,Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Do Kyung Ko
- Division of Sport Science, Health Promotion Center, & Sport Science Institute, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea,Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - James H. Cauraugh
- Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA,*To whom correspondence should be addressed: James H. Cauraugh, Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8206, USA; Phone: 352-294-1623, Fax: 352-392-0316, E-mail:
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Samogin J, Rueda Delgado L, Taberna GA, Swinnen SP, Mantini D. Age-related differences of frequency-dependent functional connectivity in brain networks and their link to motor performance. Brain Connect 2022; 12:686-698. [DOI: 10.1089/brain.2021.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Samogin
- Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Rueda Delgado
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, 71434, Dublin, Ireland
- Cumulus Neuroscience, Ltd. , Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gaia Amaranta Taberna
- Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan P. Swinnen
- Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute , Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dante Mantini
- Leuven, Belgium
- Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Babaeeghazvini P, Rueda-Delgado LM, Gooijers J, Swinnen SP, Daffertshofer A. Brain Structural and Functional Connectivity: A Review of Combined Works of Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Electro-Encephalography. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:721206. [PMID: 34690718 PMCID: PMC8529047 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.721206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Implications of structural connections within and between brain regions for their functional counterpart are timely points of discussion. White matter microstructural organization and functional activity can be assessed in unison. At first glance, however, the corresponding findings appear variable, both in the healthy brain and in numerous neuro-pathologies. To identify consistent associations between structural and functional connectivity and possible impacts for the clinic, we reviewed the literature of combined recordings of electro-encephalography (EEG) and diffusion-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It appears that the strength of event-related EEG activity increases with increased integrity of structural connectivity, while latency drops. This agrees with a simple mechanistic perspective: the nature of microstructural white matter influences the transfer of activity. The EEG, however, is often assessed for its spectral content. Spectral power shows associations with structural connectivity that can be negative or positive often dependent on the frequencies under study. Functional connectivity shows even more variations, which are difficult to rank. This might be caused by the diversity of paradigms being investigated, from sleep and resting state to cognitive and motor tasks, from healthy participants to patients. More challenging, though, is the potential dependency of findings on the kind of analysis applied. While this does not diminish the principal capacity of EEG and diffusion-based MRI co-registration, it highlights the urgency to standardize especially EEG analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Babaeeghazvini
- Department of Human Movements Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Science Institute (AMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Institute for Brain and Behaviour Amsterdam (iBBA), Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laura M. Rueda-Delgado
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jolien Gooijers
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan P. Swinnen
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Daffertshofer
- Department of Human Movements Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Science Institute (AMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Institute for Brain and Behaviour Amsterdam (iBBA), Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Veldman MP, Maurits NM, Mantini D, Hortobágyi T. Age-dependent modulation of motor network connectivity for skill acquisition, consolidation and interlimb transfer after motor practice. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:1790-1801. [PMID: 34130247 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Age-related differences in neural strategies for motor learning are not fully understood. We determined the effects of age on the relationship between motor network connectivity and motor skill acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer using dynamic imaging of coherent sources. METHODS Healthy younger (n = 24, 18-24 y) and older (n = 24, 65-87 y) adults unilaterally practiced a visuomotor task and resting-state electroencephalographic data was acquired before and after practice as well as at retention. RESULTS The results showed that right-hand skill acquisition and consolidation did not differ between age groups. However, age affected the ability to transfer the newly acquired motor skill to the non-practiced limb. Moreover, strengthened left- and right-primary motor cortex-related beta connectivity was negatively and positively associated with right-hand skill acquisition and left-hand skill consolidation in older adults, respectively. CONCLUSION Age-dependent modulations of bilateral resting-state motor network connectivity indicate age-specific strategies for the acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer of novel motor tasks. SIGNIFICANCE The present results provide insights into the mechanisms underlying motor learning that are important for the development of interventions for patients with unilateral injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Veldman
- KU Leuven, Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands; KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium.
| | - N M Maurits
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neurology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - D Mantini
- KU Leuven, Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium; Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
| | - T Hortobágyi
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands; Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Somogy County Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital, Kaposvár, Hungary
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Verstraelen S, van Dun K, Depestele S, Van Hoornweder S, Jamil A, Ghasemian-Shirvan E, Nitsche MA, Van Malderen S, Swinnen SP, Cuypers K, Meesen RLJ. Dissociating the causal role of left and right dorsal premotor cortices in planning and executing bimanual movements - A neuro-navigated rTMS study. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:423-434. [PMID: 33621675 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) is a key region in bimanual coordination. However, causal evidence linking PMd functionality during motor planning and execution to movement quality is lacking. OBJECTIVE We investigated how left (PMdL) and right PMd (PMdR) are causally involved in planning and executing bimanual movements, using short-train repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Additionally, we explored to what extent the observed rTMS-induced modulation of performance could be explained by rTMS-induced modulation of PMd-M1 interhemispheric interactions (IHI). METHODS Twenty healthy adults (mean age ± SD = 22.85 ± 3.73 years) participated in two sessions, in which either PMdL or PMdR was targeted with rTMS (10 Hz) in a pseudo-randomized design. PMd functionality was transiently modulated during the planning or execution of a complex bimanual task, whereby the participant was asked to track a moving dot by controlling two dials. The effect of rTMS on several performance measures was investigated. Concurrently, rTMS-induced modulation of PMd-M1 IHI was measured using a dual-coil paradigm, and associated with the rTMS-induced performance modulation. RESULTS rTMS over PMdL during planning increased bilateral hand movement speed (p = 0.03), thereby improving movement accuracy (p = 0.02). In contrast, rTMS over PMdR during both planning and execution induced deterioration of movement stability (p = 0.04). rTMS-induced modulation of PMd-M1 IHI during planning did not predict rTMS-induced performance modulation. CONCLUSION The current findings support the growing evidence on PMdL dominance during motor planning, as PMdL was crucially involved in planning the speed of each hand, subserving bimanual coordination accuracy. Moreover, the current results suggest that PMdR fulfills a role in continuous adjustment processes of movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Verstraelen
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Kim van Dun
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Siel Depestele
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sybren Van Hoornweder
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Asif Jamil
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ensiyeh Ghasemian-Shirvan
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany; International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Shanti Van Malderen
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Cuypers
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raf L J Meesen
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Chettouf S, Rueda-Delgado LM, de Vries R, Ritter P, Daffertshofer A. Are unimanual movements bilateral? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:39-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Samogin J, Liu Q, Marino M, Wenderoth N, Mantini D. Shared and connection-specific intrinsic interactions in the default mode network. Neuroimage 2019; 200:474-481. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Babaeeghazvini P, Rueda-Delgado LM, Zivari Adab H, Gooijers J, Swinnen S, Daffertshofer A. A combined diffusion-weighted and electroencephalography study on age-related differences in connectivity in the motor network during bimanual performance. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 40:1799-1813. [PMID: 30588749 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We studied the relationship between age-related differences in inter- and intra-hemispheric structural and functional connectivity in the bilateral motor network. Our focus was on the correlation between connectivity and declined motor performance in older adults. Structural and functional connectivity were estimated using diffusion weighted imaging and resting-state electro-encephalography, respectively. A total of 48 young and older healthy participants were measured. In addition, motor performances were assessed using bimanual coordination tasks. To pre-select regions-of-interest (ROIs), a neural model was adopted that accounts for intra-hemispheric functional connectivity between dorsal premotor area (PMd) and primary motor cortex (M1) and inter-hemispheric connections between left and right M1 (M1L and M1R ). Functional connectivity was determined via the weighted phase-lag index (wPLI) in the source-reconstructed beta activity during rest. We quantified structural connectivity using kurtosis anisotropy (KA) values of tracts derived from diffusion tensor-based fiber tractography between the aforementioned areas. In the group of older adults, wPLI values between M1L -M1R were negatively associated with the quality of bimanual motor performance. The additional association between wPLI values of PMdL --M1L and PMdR -M1L supports that functional connectivity with the left hemisphere mediated (bimanual) motor control in older adults. The correlational analysis between the selected structural and functional connections revealed a strong association between wPLI values in the left intra-hemispheric PMdL -M1L pathway and KA values in M1L -M1R and PMdR -M1L pathways in the group of older adults. This suggests that weaker structural connections in older adults correlate with stronger functional connectivity and, hence, poorer motor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Babaeeghazvini
- Amsterdam Movement Science Institute (AMS) and Institute for Brain and Behaviour Amsterdam (iBBA), Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Milena Rueda-Delgado
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hamed Zivari Adab
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Gooijers
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan Swinnen
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Daffertshofer
- Amsterdam Movement Science Institute (AMS) and Institute for Brain and Behaviour Amsterdam (iBBA), Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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