Age-related deterioration of coordinated interlimb behavior.
Younger and older participants performed two-limb coordination patterns of homologous (similar) and nonhomologous (dissimilar) effectors during 1:1 synchronization, according to the in-phase or anti-phase mode. The aim of the study was to examine age-related changes during the production of these basic movement patterns and their relative stability difference. The findings revealed that the aging process modulated the coordination dynamics as a function of effector system characteristics. Whereas the homologous system was resistant to age-related deficits, movements of the nonhomologous system showed coordinative degradation that was most apparent during execution of the anti-phase mode. The latter performance regression is argued to be an expression of age-dependent declines in cognitive regulation and afferent information processing. This implies that deterioration in coordinated behavior across the life span may be strongly task dependent because of a combined effect of cognitive and sensory components.
Serrien
D J
DJ
Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Belgium. debbie.serrien@insel.ch
Swinnen
S P
SP
Stelmach
G E
GE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001259:Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male