title: Cross-education of strength and skill: an old idea with applications in the aging nervous system.
abstract: Edward Wheeler Scripture's 1894 work out of the Yale Psychological Laboratory has been influential in identifying the nervous system's contribution to the bilateral improvements that are seen with unilateral strength and skill training. Scripture coined the term "cross-education" to describe this improvement in the untrained contralateral limb. While physiological changes accompany aging that may negatively affect the performance of physical tasks, far too much credit has been given to the natural aging process rather than the effects of inactivity. Emerging evidence indicates strength or skill training interventions induce significant neuroplasticity in an aging population. The model of unilateral training provides a unique approach in which to elicit such plasticity. This brief review highlights the innate ability of the nervous system to adapt to unilateral strength and skill training interventions, regardless of age, and provides a novel perspective on the robust plastic ability of the aging nervous system.
authors: Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; School of Exercise Science, Physical, and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors: Trevor S
authors: TS
authors: Barss
authors: Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; School of Exercise Science, Physical, and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors: Gregory E P
authors: GE
authors: Pearcey
authors: Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; School of Exercise Science, Physical, and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors: E Paul
authors: EP
authors: Zehr
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: aging; cross-education; nervous system; neuroplasticity; skill; strength; training