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Cerebello-Cortical Connectivity and Balance Adaptation in Younger and Older Adults
Sponsor: University of Minnesota
Summary
This study will investigate how communication between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex contributes to balance control and adaptation in younger and older adults. The study will enroll healthy younger adults ages 21-35 years and older adults ages 65-95 years. Participants will complete a single testing session that includes clinical balance assessments, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and reactive balance testing using an instrumented treadmill. Cerebello-cortical connectivity will be measured before and after reactive balance testing using cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI) and the cerebellar TMS-evoked potential P80. The study will examine how these measures relate to cortical activity, balance recovery, and adaptation across repeated perturbations, and whether these relationships differ between younger and older adults.
Official title: Cerebello-cortical Connectivity as an Adaptive Mechanism for Balance Control With Aging
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
21 Years - 95 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
58
Start Date
2027-01-01
Completion Date
2028-09-30
Last Updated
2026-10-28
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Assessment
Single-pulse and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation will be delivered using a Magstim BiStim² stimulator and compatible coils to assess cerebello-cortical excitability. Dual-site TMS will be used to assess cerebellar brain inhibition, and cerebellar TMS combined with EEG will be used to assess the P80 TMS-evoked potential. Measurements will be collected before and after reactive balance testing. TMS is used as a research measurement procedure, not as a therapeutic intervention.
Reactive Balance Adaptation Task
Participants will complete a single session of reactive balance testing on an instrumented treadmill. Support-surface translations of varying magnitude will first be delivered to determine the reactive step threshold, followed by repeated perturbations at a fixed magnitude to evaluate balance recovery and adaptation. Participants will wear an overhead safety harness, and trained research personnel will supervise all testing.
Locations (1)
University of Minnesota - Brains in Motion Laboratory, 426 Church Street SE, Room 219, Children's Rehabilitation Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States