Motor control, cognition & brain
Neurological changes in the aging brain, coordination in aging, neurological changes in motor learning, effect of nicotine on the brain, vertigo in the elderly
Neurological changes in the aging brain
Normal aging is accompanied by a decline in motor functions, which affects quality of life. These changes are associated with age-related changes in the brain. It remains unclear how age-related changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity influence motor performance. Therefore, we study how these changes in structural and functional brain interactions can explain deficits in motor functioning.
On the one hand, we focus on the interaction between specific brain areas that form the network involved in motor control. These interactions will be examined both within and between the two hemispheres of the brain. On the other hand, we look at age-related differences in the interactions between different networks at rest from a more global perspective to arrive at a measure of neural de-differentiation.
In our research we focus on training-induced neuroplasticity in the aging brain and investigate (a) which structural and functional brain measurements predict future learning, and (b) how both behavioral and brain measurements change as a result of learning. This requires a combination of non-invasive brain stimulation and multimodal imaging techniques. We aim to make a fundamental contribution to knowledge that can inspire future training programs to alleviate or counteract the functional decline associated with aging.
Raf Meesen
Koen Cuypers
Discover all the research and the entire team working at Brains-lab, under supervision of Prof. Dr. Koen Cuypers.
Motor learning and DCD
Approximately 1 child in every classroom has Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), yet not every child currently receives a diagnosis. The diagnosis is more frequently made in boys than in girls. Children with DCD are often described as clumsy and may experience a variety of problems. They struggle with coordination, estimating movements, planning tasks, or maintaining balance. Specifically, children with DCD may face difficulties with various tasks such as writing, tying shoelaces, swimming, running, or hopping.
Therapists use motor learning principles to teach motor skills to children with DCD. Commonly used motor learning principles relate to instructions and feedback. The goal of this doctorate is to provide recommendations regarding the use of instructions and feedback for children with DCD. This will be based on a systematic literature review of the effects of frequency, form, and timing of instructions and feedback in children. Additionally, a qualitative study will investigate how physiotherapists working in pediatric rehabilitation apply motor learning in children with DCD.
For this purpose, physiotherapists from Flanders and the Netherlands will be interviewed and observed. Finally, online questionnaires will be used to gather the opinions of international experts regarding the application of motor learning principles in children with DCD.
This research will thus lead to more insights and concrete guidelines on how therapists can apply motor learning principles to optimize the learning of motor skills in children with DCD.
Eugene Rameckers
Katrijn Klingels
Cognition in persons with dementia
Moderate intense physical exercise has a beneficial effect in individuals with dementia on physical function, cognition and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia. Adherence and motivation to exercise appears to be very low in individuals with Dementia living in nursing homes.
This AMusED-project (Adherence by MUSic to Exercise in Dementia) aims to increase the adherence and training volume in individuals with dementia living in nursing homes up to levels meeting the recommendations for moderate-intense aerobic and strength exercise, without burdening the healthcare staff. Because music can play an important motivational role in exercise, we will evaluate two novel interventions, adapted to the specific interest of the individuals, to enhance physical activity in individuals with Dementia living in nursing homes.
Study 1 will identify the effect of a music and video based group exercise program versus usual care in older adults with moderate dementia. Study 2 will determine the effect of music as a biofeedback system and motivational factor on exercise volume during moderate intense aerobic exercises on a stationary bike.
Joke Spildooren
Effect of nicotine on the brain
Nicotinic modulation of brain physiology and cognition in human aging.
Acetylcholine is one of the most important neuromodulators in the human brain.
It is involved in attentional processes, memory formation, and cognitive function. Disruption of cholinergic activity, particularly nicotinic transmission, can lead to cognitive decline and is associated with neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, depression and ADHD, indicating a major role for overall health in a physiological functioning state. In this project we aim to explore the relevance of nicotinic receptor function on human brain physiology and cognition.
We hypothesize that old and young smokers in nicotine-withdrawal will show reduced facilitatory plasticity and cognitive performance, which can be re-established by nicotine application. Reduced cholinergic function is related to reduced cognitive capabilities in age, therefore we predict an age-dependent heterogenous effect in the non-smoking sub-group with adverse effects on young and facilitatory effects on elderly nonsmokers.
In summary, this study aims (1) to further investigate nicotinic receptor activation-related physiological processes related to cognitive functions and (2) to explore age-dependent effects of nicotinic receptor activation on physiology and cognition.
Raf Meesen
Neurophysiology in multiple sclerosis
Bart Van Wijmeersch
Cognition in persons with MS
Multi-dimensional exercise and neurophysiological investigation of walking-related fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease characterized by inducing
various symptoms, including fatigue. Fatigue is common in people with MS (pwMS), and is one of the most disabling symptoms reported by this population (e.g. almost 90% experience or have experienced fatigue due to MS). Along the same lines, fatigue, which is defined as a decrease in performance on a given task, is also more common in pwMS and affects both motor and cognition domains.
There is also no research into rehabilitation programs to reduce motor fatigue in pwMS. Using different biomechanical and neurophysiological approaches, the project aims to i) investigate, using a virtual reality environment (GRAIL), how motor fatigability influences biomechanical adaptations, what the relationship is with cognition and what the relationship is with neurophysiological measurements during walking with virtual obstacles negotiation; ii) investigate the relationship of neurophysiological domains with fatigability during stepping movements (fNIRS) and the exertion of attentional control using simple tasks (e.g. vigilance tasks).
Improvement of cognition in individuals with progressive MS (CogEx study).
A multicenter study in collaboration with 11 different centers located in Belgium, Denmark, England, Italy, Canada and America will be conducted. Cognitive rehabilitation and aerobic training will be performed separately and jointly by 360 persons with primary or secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
The rehabilitation programs will be evaluated separately and together, with the aim of determining whether both programs are an effective treatment for cognitive problems and to determine whether the treatments have a synergistic effect when combined in individuals with progressive MS. This is a project at the MS Liga Canada in collaboration with the University of Toronto.