5 research outputs found
The influence of task characteristics on younger and older adult motor overflow
This study investigated the influence of attentional and motor demands on motor overflow in 17
healthy young (18–35 years) and 17 older adults (60–80 years). Participants performed a finger
pressing task by exerting either 33% or 66% of their maximal force output using their dominant or
nondominant hand. Overflow was concurrently recorded in the passive hand. Attention was manipulated
via a tactile stimulus presented to one or both hands for certain trials. Results showed that older
adults exhibited greater overflow than young adults and that the effect of target force was exacerbated
in older adults. Further, only older adult overflow was increased when tactile stimulation was directed
to one or both hands. Increased overflow in older adults may result from bilateral cortical activation
that is influenced by increased task demands. To perform comparatively to younger adults, older adults
may compensate for age-related brain changes by recruiting an increased cortical network