Project R-16362

The Interaction Between Cognitive Control and Motor Control Across Ageing (Research)

The project will focus on the effects of ageing on the interplay between cognitive and motor control. Specifically, we aim to determine to what extent prefrontal brain areas related to cognition are involved in the acquisition of new motor skills during ageing. Therefore, we aim to employ a combination of noninvasive brain stimulation (TMS) and neuroimaging (EEG). This approach will allow us to examine how the primary motor cortex (M1) interacts with frontal regions and whether M1 excitability depends on the functional state of the frontal cortex. To this end, the motor cortex will be perturbated using TMS during different states of frontal cortex activity. Beyond targeting M1, we will also study the aging effect in the prefrontal cortex. Subsequently, this project will aim to translate the prior findings into clinical strategies to circumvent the age-related deterioration of motor control. Overall, this timely project yields significant potential, by informing on network-level communication and elucidating the role of prefrontal regions in motor learning in older adults. The current findings could contribute to the refinement of therapeutic protocols and highlight the importance of cognitive control in motor learning during rehabilitation.

01 December 2025 - 30 November 2029