We are currently looking for healthy volunteers aged 18 – 35 and 60 – 85 years to participate in studies investigating how ageing affects brain function associated with movement.

 

Nature and purpose of the study

The human brain is capable of undergoing reorganisations throughout life. These reorganisations are the basis for modifications in behaviour. For example, when you learn a new movement (known as a motor skill), such as playing the piano, the areas of the brain that control movement (motor areas) are reorganised. These modifications allow you to improve your performance. With advancing age, changes in motor areas of the brain occur. In these experiments, we will use non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess age-related changes in motor areas of the brain and examine relationships between these changes and deficits in the performance of motor skills in a healthy elderly population.

 

What is involved?

The experiments will be conducted in the psychophysiology laboratory at Murdoch University. The experimental process will take approximately 2.5 hours and you will be reimbursed for your time with a Myer voucher to the value of $15/ hour.

 

Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is a technique that employs a magnetic field to activate the brain. A coil is held over the scalp by the experimenter and a brief current pulse flows through the coil. This in turn generates a magnetic field that activates the brain beneath the coil. If the coil is held over the motor cortex, we can see the effects of stimulation by recording responses produced in muscles of the leg. These responses are recorded with the electrodes taped to the skin overlying the leg muscles that we will be stimulating.

 

Balance and Movement Tasks

There will be a range of simple balance tasks that will take around 40 minutes to complete. These tasks involve simple activities like walking for 10 meters at a fast pace or standing still on a platform for 30 seconds.

 

Questionnaires

You will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires. These questionnaires will provide us with information on your general health and well-being, physical activity levels, and leg preference during normal daily activities.

 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this study, you must be over the age of 60 and be right-handed.

 

You may be ineligible if you:

• Are on medications that act on your brain (e.g. antidepressants)
• Have a history of epilepsy or stroke
• Have metal implants in the skull or brain
• Have a pacemaker or medical infusion device

Questions

If you would like more details about the study, or have any questions, or would like to participate in the study, please feel free to contact Avalon Young on 0438 902 386 or a.young@murdoch.edu.au, or phone Dr Ann-Maree Vallence on 9360 7464.