Abstract
Background: Action-intentional programs control “when” we initiate, inhibit, continue, and stop motor actions. The purpose of this study was to learn if there are changes in the action-intentional system with healthy aging, and if these changes are asymmetrical (right versus left upper limb) or related to impaired interhemispheric communication. Methods: We administered tests of action-intention to 41 middle-aged and older adults (61.9 ± 12.3 years). Results: Regression analyses revealed that older age predicted a decrement in performance for tests of crossed motor response inhibition as well as slower motor initiation with the left hand. Conclusion: Changes in action-intention with aging appear to be related to alterations of interhemispheric communication and/or age-related right hemisphere dysfunction; however, further research is needed to identify the mechanisms for age-related changes in the brain networks that mediate action-intention.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 244-258 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 4 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cognitive aging
- action-intention
- brain aging
- interhemispheric disconnection
- motor control
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Psychiatry and Mental health