Determine if there is an age (young, middle age, old age) by condition (lying, standing) interaction in the neuronal excitability measured during the preparatory phase of an arm reaction task.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
Veroudering
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main study parameters are the size of a reflex, called H reflex, measured
in response to peripheral electrical stimulation if the tibial nerve and
normalized for the maximal compound action potential or M wave. That is, the
H/M ratio. A second outcome is short-interval intracortical inhibition or SICI,
which is the inhibition of the test motor evoked potential (MEP), when the
suprathreshold TMS pulse (the test stimulus) is preceded by a few milliseconds
with a subthreshold TMS pulse (the conditioning stimulus). SICI is a measure of
motor intracortical inhibition, reflecting GABAergic receptors function.
Secondary outcome
Not applicable
Background summary
Considering the widespread qualitative and quantitative changes in gray and
white matter and motor unit remodeling at the periphery, even healthy old
adults exhibit a characteristic and well recognizable slowing of self-initiated
and responsive voluntary movements. Execution of voluntary movement is preceded
by an increase in the preparatory state of the nervous system. Appropriate
setting of this neural readiness is especially relevant in situations when old
adults reactively, as often in daily life, respond to an external cue while
standing and there is a need to make anticipatory postural adjustments or APAs.
How healthy aging affects this neural preparedness, i.e., APA, is unknown. An
elucidation of how age affects the neural mechanisms of APA is important
because many old adults lose balance and could fall. Understanding and
eventually altering by interventions this neural preparedness thus has societal
relevance.
Study objective
Determine if there is an age (young, middle age, old age) by condition (lying,
standing) interaction in the neuronal excitability measured during the
preparatory phase of an arm reaction task.
Study design
The study uses a cross-sectional design to determine the effects of age on
neuronal excitability measured during two different body postures (lying,
standing).
Study burden and risks
Subjects have to visit the Center for Human Movement Sciences one time for
about two hours. The preparation for the measurements will take 30 minutes.
Subjects will be familiarized with the task and the environment for 10-20
minutes. Next, we will check if the timing when the stimulation is given is
appropriate (10-15 minutes + 10 minutes to check the data). In one condition,
subjects will lie and react to an auditory tone by raising their right arm to
horizontal (30 min). In a second condition, they will respond to the tone and
raise their arm while standing (30 min). After the tone, the H reflex or SICI
will be evoked either at rest (no arm elevation, control trials) or just before
arm elevation. In each experiment (H reflex or SICI), subjects will raise
their arm 100 times in blocks of 20, with no less than 2 minutes of rest
between blocks.
The TMS may cause slight discomfort lasting less than a second on the scalp
near the coil. It may also cause some twitching of the muscles, the face and
jaw, which may be unpleasant and surprising but not painful.
Peripheral nerve stimulation causes the muscles to twitch that can be more
surprising than painful. It can cause some momentary burning and tingling
sensation.
There are no known long-term risks of peripheral nerve or magnetic brain
stimulation.
Electromyography (EMG) of the soleus, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris,
gastrocnemius, deltoideus anterior muscles will be recorded. Therefore the skin
underneath the electrodes will be shaved and cleaned. This may cause some light
irritation of the skin.
Antonius Deusinglaan 1
Groningen 9700AD
NL
Antonius Deusinglaan 1
Groningen 9700AD
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Age 18 and older, male and female gender.
Exclusion criteria
Neurological disorders like epileptic, MS, dementia, inability to stand independently for 10 minutes without rest, medications know to affect balance, any metal in the brain/skull, pregnancy or suspicion of pregnancy (self-reported).
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL55875.042.15 |