Characteristics of motor variability and network-based neural flexibility

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20103
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Uehara Kazumasa 生理学研究所, システム脳科学研究領域, 助教 (90746661)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 運動学習 / 加齢 / 脳波 / Flexibility

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to quantify the neural noise that is thought to cause motor variability using human cortical electroencephalography (EEG) from the perspective of brain activity variability and fluctuations in brain networks, and to understand the functional significance of motor variability in the motor control mechanism through motor learning experiments.
We recorded learning ability and brain activity using motor learning experiments and EEG measurements in healthy adults in their 20s to 80s. We also quantified the flexibility of the brain network using the network community extraction method. We found that the flexibility of the brain network was higher in younger subjects than in older subjects, and this flexibility was related to the index of motor learning.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は，これまで計測ノイズとして考えられていた神経活動のばらつきの機能的意義を明らかにし，かつライフスパンにおいて脳機能結合のflexibilityが変化することを明らかにした。また，この脳機能結合のflexibilityが運動学習指標と密に関係することが明らかとなった。これは，新規運動学習手法の開発や高齢であっても加齢に打ち勝ち，新たな運動技能を効率的に学ぶ手法の提案に繋がると考える。