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| Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2002): |
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Visuomotor adaptation in normal aging.
Full Abstract
Visuomotor adaptation to a gradual or sudden screen cursor rotation was investigated in healthy young and elderly subjects. Both age groups were equally divided into two subgroups; one subgroup was exposed to 11.25 degrees step increments of visual feedback rotation, every 45 trials (up to a total of 90 degrees), whereas a second subgroup was subjected to 90 degrees rotation from the onset of exposure. Participants performed discrete, horizontal hand movements to virtual targets in four randomized directions. Targets appeared on a computer screen in front of them, and a board prevented vision of the hand at all times. Differential effects of aging on visuomotor adaptation were found, depending on the time course of the visual distortion. In both age groups, early exposure to the sudden visual feedback distortion resulted in typical spiral-like trajectories, which became straighter by late exposure. However, the final adaptation level was reduced in the aged group, although the aftereffects were similar. When subjects were exposed to the gradual distortion, no statistically significant differences in measures of adaptation with advancing age were found. In this case, both age groups appeared to adapt equally. However, after removal of the distortion, elderly subjects showed reduced aftereffects as compared with the young group. These findings suggest differential effects of aging on adaptation to gradual versus sudden visual feedback distortions, and may help to explain the conflicting results obtained in previous visuomotor adaptation studies.
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Author information
Author/s: Buch, Ethan R (ER); Young, Sereniti (S); Contreras-Vidal, José L (JL);
Affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
Grants: AG19148 (Agency:United States NIA)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Journal: Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) (Learn Mem), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: -2003 Jan-Feb; vol 10 (issue 1) : pp 55-63
Dates: Created 2003/01/28; Completed 2003/05/23; Revised 2007/11/14;
PMID: 12551964, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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