fMRI investigation of complex coordinated movements: focus on alteration of brain activation due to aging and exercise

个人每天进行的活动的多样性主要依赖于多个肌肉的复杂协调激活。使用两个新开发的功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）范式，其中运动性能与大脑激活同时量化，我们将研究参与人类复杂协调运动的规划和执行的基本神经网络。此外，我们将评估与这些运动的计划和执行有关的大脑激活的年龄相关变化，并确定体力活动是否可以阻止或逆转这些与年龄相关的大脑激活变化。在三项研究中的第一项中，将与体力活动的老年人的双手跟踪运动的执行相关的大脑激活与年轻和不活动的老年人的大脑激活进行比较。在第二项研究中，将与年轻和不活跃的老年人的双手跟踪运动的规划相关的大脑激活进行比较。将使用3特斯拉磁体量化大脑激活，并使用MRI兼容的前臂旋转传感器进行双手协调。在最后一项研究中，将检查为期三个月的锻炼计划对老年人大脑激活模式的影响。在培训课程之前和之后将进行脑部扫描。 拟议研究计划的目标是大大提高我们对健康受试者双手协调神经网络的理解，如何在老年人中进行修改，以及体力活动是否可以预防或逆转这些与年龄相关的大脑激活变化。 这些研究可能有可能证明，老年人体力活动的益处不仅限于神经肌肉或心肺系统的变化，还可能影响执行复杂运动任务所需的神经网络。

The diversity of activities that are carried out by individuals on a daily basis relies chiefly on the complex coordinated activation of multiple muscles. Using two newly developed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms in which motor performance is quantified simultaneously with brain activation, we will examine the basic neural networks involved in the planning and execution of complex coordinated movements in humans. Furthermore, we will assess age-related alteration in brain activation involved in planning and execution of these movements, and determine whether physical activity may prevent or reverse these age-related alterations in brain activation. In the first of three studies, brain activation associated with the execution of bimanual tracking movements of physically active elderly individuals will be compared to that of young and inactive elderly individuals. In the second study, brain activation associated with the planning of bimanual tracking movements of physically active elderly individuals will be compared to that of young and inactive elderly individuals. Brain activation will be quantified using a 3 Tesla magnet, and bimanual coordination using MRI-compatible forearm rotational sensors. In the last study, the impact of a three-month exercise program on the pattern of brain activation of elderly inactive elderly individuals will be examined. Brain scans will be performed before and after the training sessions.  The goals of the proposed research program is to improve greatly our understanding of neural networks involved in bimanual coordination in healthy subjects, how it is modified in elderly individuals, and whether physical activity may prevent or reverse these age-related alterations in brain activation.  These studies may have the potential to demonstrate that the benefits of physical activity in elderly individuals is not limited to changes in neuro-muscular or cardio-respiratory systems, but may also affect the neural networks needed to perform complex motor tasks.