Facilitatory and inhibitory mechanisms during interlimb coordination in young and older adults

该项目旨在了解人们如何协调他们的四肢，以及限制和增强这种能力的因素。这是至关重要的，因为协调是老年人和脑损伤和神经退行性疾病患者的主要缺陷。这种能力的破坏会损害个人的工作效率、流动性和独立性。随着人类年龄的增长，熟练的运动功能是一个重要的生活方式因素，肌肉协调活动的缺陷会增加跌倒的风险，而跌倒是老年人受伤的主要原因。识别涉及肢体间协调的大脑过程的变化将允许开发改善老年人运动功能的策略。

The project seeks to understand how people coordinate their limbs and the factors which limit and enhance this capacity. This is of critical importance because coordination is a dominant deficit in aging and in patients suffering brain insult and neurodegenerative diseases. Disruption of this capacity compromises individual work productivity, mobility and independence. Proficient motor functioning is an important lifestyle factor as humans age and deficits in coordinated muscle activity will increase the risk of falls which are the leading cause of injury in elderly adults. Identification of changes in brain processes involved in interlimb coordination will allow for the development of strategies to improve motor functions in the aged.