Abstract
Recent work in young adults has demonstrated that motor learning can modulate resting state functional connectivity. However, evidence for older adults is scarce. Here, we investigated whether learning a bimanual tracking task modulates resting state functional connectivity of both inter- and intra-hemispheric regions differentially in young and older individuals, and whether this has behavioral relevance. Both age groups learned a set of complex bimanual tracking task variants over a 2-week training period. Resting-state and task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected before and after training. Our analyses revealed that both young and older adults reached considerable performance gains. Older adults even obtained larger training-induced improvements relative to baseline, but their overall performance levels were lower than in young adults. Short-term practice resulted in a modulation of resting state functional connectivity, leading to connectivity increases in young adults, but connectivity decreases in older adults. This pattern of age differences occurred for both inter- and intra-hemispheric connections related to the motor network. Additionally, long-term training-induced increases were observed in intra-hemispheric connectivity in the right hemisphere across both age groups. Overall, at the individual level, the long-term changes in inter-hemispheric connectivity correlated with training-induced motor improvement. Our findings confirm that short-term task practice shapes spontaneous brain activity differentially in young and older individuals. Importantly, the association between changes in resting state functional connectivity and improvements in motor performance at the individual level may be indicative of how training shapes the short-term functional reorganization of the resting state motor network for improvement of behavioral performance.
Highlights
A large body of research has shown reduced abilities in motor skill performance and learning with age (Swinnen, 1998; Serrien et al, 2000; Bangert et al, 2010; Seidler et al, 2010; SolesioJofre et al, 2014; Pauwels et al, 2015; Serbruyns et al, 2015)
A significant age × scan session interaction effect [F(1,42) = 20.71, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.33] indicated that, both age groups were able to significantly improve their performance as a result of training [young adults (YA): t(22) = 8.95, p < 0.0001: older adults (OA): t(20) = 7.65, p < 0.0001], OA improved their performance to a higher degree as compared to YA from pre-test to posttest session
We investigated whether learning a bimanual tracking task modulates resting state functional connectivity (rs-functional connectivity (FC)) in the early and late phase of practice and Functional Connectivity Changes in Young and Older Adults as a Result of Short-Term Practice
Summary
A large body of research has shown reduced abilities in motor skill performance and learning with age (Swinnen, 1998; Serrien et al, 2000; Bangert et al, 2010; Seidler et al, 2010; SolesioJofre et al, 2014; Pauwels et al, 2015; Serbruyns et al, 2015). Behavioral research has shown that the motor learning process follows different stages. In a later phase, performance becomes stable, with subtler training-induced improvement that involves consolidation processes. This is achieved over a longer period of time, i.e., between sessions spread over a period of several weeks (Ungerleider et al, 2002; Floyer-Lea and Matthews, 2005)
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