As individuals age, their movement control performance generally deteriorates; in particular, their movements get slower and more variable. We have shown that in an aiming task much of the slowing can be attributed to how the elderly subjects structure their movements. In comparison to younger subjects, they typically execute aiming movements that contain a shorter movement. We have also established that even with extended practice, the elderly do not change the relationship between these sub-movements which suggests that these modifications to the movement structure reflect fundamental changes in the motor system. In this application through a series of experiments, we seek to understand why the elderly alter the structure of their movements. Four major hypotheses are examined that probe potential causes of this modification: increase muscle cocontraction, increased force variability, reduced visuo-proprioceptive calibration, and reduced coordination control. In each experiment a methodology is employed that divides aiming movements into primary and secondary sub-movements and investigates their relationship to predictions made from the four hypotheses. This experimental sequence is the first to comprehensively examine primary and secondary sub-movements in the elderly.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG014676-02
Application #
2769431
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Program Officer
Oliver, Eugene J
Project Start
1997-09-01
Project End
2001-08-31
Budget Start
1998-09-01
Budget End
1999-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
188435911
City
Tempe
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85287
Poston, Brach; Van Gemmert, Arend W A; Sharma, Siddharth et al. (2013) Movement trajectory smoothness is not associated with the endpoint accuracy of rapid multi-joint arm movements in young and older adults. Acta Psychol (Amst) 143:157-67
Park, Jin-Hoon; Stelmach, George E (2009) Integration deficiencies associated with continuous limb movement sequences in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 15:682-7
Poston, Brach; Van Gemmert, Arend W A; Barduson, Beth et al. (2009) Movement structure in young and elderly adults during goal-directed movements of the left and right arm. Brain Cogn 69:30-8
Ketcham, Caroline J; Dounskaia, Natalia V; Stelmach, George E (2006) The role of vision in the control of continuous multijoint movements. J Mot Behav 38:29-44
Leis, B C; Rand, M K; Van Gemmert, A W A et al. (2005) Movement precues in planning and execution of aiming movements in Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol 194:393-409
Ketcham, Caroline J; Dounskaia, Natalia V; Stelmach, George E (2004) Age-related differences in the control of multijoint movements. Motor Control 8:422-36
Romero, Diana Helen; Stelmach, George E (2003) Changes in postural control with aging and Parkinson's disease. IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag 22:27-31
Romero, Diana H; Van Gemmert, Arend W A; Adler, Charles H et al. (2003) Altered aiming movements in Parkinson's disease patients and elderly adults as a function of delays in movement onset. Exp Brain Res 151:249-61
Romero, Diana H; Van Gemmert, Arend W A; Adler, Charles H et al. (2003) Time delays prior to movement alter the drawing kinematics of elderly adults. Hum Mov Sci 22:207-20
Ketcham, Caroline J; Seidler, Rachael D; Van Gemmert, Arend W A et al. (2002) Age-related kinematic differences as influenced by task difficulty, target size, and movement amplitude. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 57:P54-64

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