Testing the compensation versus dedifferentiation theories of aging by modulating excitability in the motor cortex using non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS)
Description: Cortical hyperactivation refers to the recruitment of additional brain regions in older adults (OA) compared to young adults (YA) when performing the same task. While extensive research has already explored this phenomenon across various tasks and brain regions, the functional implications of this hyperactivation remain unknown and debated between two main theories: compensation (adaptive role) or dedifferentiation (breakdown of specialized processing). My project will utilize individually-tailored, multi-target non-invasive brain stimulation to directly modulate motor hyperactivity in OA, and multimodal neuroimaging to evaluate the effects. This will allow for a direct comparison between the compensation versus the dedifferentiation theories by investigating causal effects on behavior, brain activation patterns, and neurotransmitter levels. The central objectives are to: characterize effects of reduced hyperactivation on (i) the brain activation pattern, (ii) behavior, (iii) neurotransmitter levels; and (iv) to synthesize neuroimaging and performance outcomes to determine whether the observed relationships are in line with the compensation or dedifferentiation theory. This innovative research will advance our understanding of the neural correlates of age-related decline in motor performance to inform interventions promoting rehabilitation and healthy aging.
Funder: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: FWO fellowships
Start date: 2025-11-01
End date: 2029-10-31
Investigators: Svitlana Blashchuk, Koen Cuypers
Institution: FWO
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 1118526N
OpenAlex ID: G1869447708