Aging and movement control: towards a multimodal imaging approach for the study of brain structure, function, and connectivity

Energized by the development of new brain imaging techniques, research on aging has witnessed a dramatic increase in attention during the past decade. This represents a critical challenge for current society, due to increasing life expectancy of the older adults. Here we focus on age-related central degenerative processes that are associated with structural (grey and white matter), functional (brain activation) and neurochemical (neurotransmitter concentration) changes, ultimately affecting connectivity within the motor network as well as its interaction with other networks. Following a detailed investigation of these age-related brain-behavior relations during motor task performance (Phase 1), we will embark on (a) innovative technologies to modulate brain activity/connectivity via the application of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques that may entrain the naturally occurring brain signals as well as on (b) the study of training-induced plastic processes that impact upon network connectivity (Phase 2). A final phase is devoted to methodological developments in multimodal imaging with a specific focus on EEG (Phase 3).

Keywords:Aging

Disciplines:Gerontology and geriatrics, Nursing, Neurosciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing, Orthopaedics