Intracortical inhibition in the soleus muscle is reduced during the control of upright standing in both young and old adults

Papegaaij, Selma; Baudry, Stéphane; Négyesi, János; Taube, Wolfgang; Hortobágyi, Tibor

doi:10.1007/s00421-016-3354-6

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Journal article

Intracortical inhibition in the soleus muscle is reduced during the control of upright standing in both young and old adults

Papegaaij, Selma Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
Baudry, Stéphane Laboratory of Applied Biology, Faculty for Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Négyesi, János Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands - Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Taube, Wolfgang Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Hortobágyi, Tibor Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands

22.03.2016

Published in:

European Journal of Applied Physiology. - 2016, vol. 116, no. 5, p. 959–967

Short-interval intracortical inhibition

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

English Purpose: In a previous study, we reported that a short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) decreases in old but not in young adults when standing on foam vs. a rigid surface. Here, we examined if such an age by task difficulty interaction in motor cortical excitability also occurs in easier standing tasks.Methods: Fourteen young (23 ± 2.7 years) and fourteen old (65 ± 4.1 years) adults received transcranial magnetic brain stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation, while they stood with or without support on a force platform.Results: In the soleus, we found that SICI was lower in unsupported (35 % inhibition) vs. supported (50 %) standing (p = 0.007) but similar in young vs. old adults (p = 0.591). In the tibialis anterior, SICI was similar between conditions (p = 0.597) but lower in old (52 %) vs. young (72 %) adults (p = 0.030). Age and standing with or without support did not affect the Hoffmann reflex in the soleus.Conclusions: The current data suggest that the motor cortex is involved in standing control, and that its role becomes more prominent with an increase in task difficulty.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Médecine

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