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Motor sequence learning in the elderly: differential activity patterns as a function of hand modality

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Abstract

Previous research on motor sequence learning (MSL) in the elderly has focused mainly on unilateral tasks, even though bilateral coordination might be impaired in this age group. In this fMRI study, 28 right-handed elderly subjects were recruited. The paradigm consisted of a Novel and a simple Control sequence executed with the right (R), left (L) and both hands (B). Behavioral performance (Accuracy[AC], Inter-tap Interval[ITI]) and associated brain activity were assessed during early learning. Behavioral performance in the Novel task was similar between unilateral conditions whereas in the bimanual condition more errors and slower motor execution were observed. Brain activity increases during learning showed differences between Conditions: R showed increased activity in pre-SMA, basal ganglia and left hippocampus while B showed activity increments mainly in posterior parietal cortex and cerebellum. L did not show any activity modulation during learning. Performance correlates for AC (related to spatial success) and ITI (related to accurate timing) shared a cortico-basal-cerebellar network. However, it was found that the ITI regressor presented additional significant correlations with activity in SMA and basal ganglia in R. The AC regressor showed additional significant correlations with activity in more extended thalamic and cerebellar areas in B. The present findings suggest that, behaviorally, the spatial and temporal components of MSL are impaired in elderly subjects when using both hands. Additionally, differential brain activity patterns were found across hand modalities. The results obtained reveal the existence of a highly specialized network in the dominant hand and identify areas specifically involved in bimanual coordination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research University of Navarra, University of Navarra Campus, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    Luis Eudave, Maite Aznárez-Sanado, Elkin O. Luis, Martín Martínez, María A. Fernández-Seara & María A. Pastor

  2. CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Maite Aznárez-Sanado, Elkin O. Luis, María A. Fernández-Seara & María A. Pastor

  3. School of Education and Psychology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    Maite Aznárez-Sanado, Elkin O. Luis & María A. Pastor

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Navarra Hospital, University of Navarra School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain

    María A. Fernández-Seara

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Navarra Hospital, University of Navarra School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain

    María A. Pastor

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  1. Luis Eudave
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  2. Maite Aznárez-Sanado
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  6. María A. Pastor
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Correspondence to María A. Pastor.

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Funding

This project has been supported by grants from Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada (FIMA), Universidad de Navarra and Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED). Luis Eudave is supported by a grant from the Friends of the University of Navarra Association.

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The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, and the applicable revisions at the time of the investigation. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Luis Eudave and Maite Aznárez-Sanado contributed equally to this article.

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Eudave, L., Aznárez-Sanado, M., Luis, E.O. et al. Motor sequence learning in the elderly: differential activity patterns as a function of hand modality. Brain Imaging and Behavior 11, 986–997 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-016-9569-7

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