Influence of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Sensorimotor Networks in Older Adults
Universite du Littoral Cote d'Opale
66 participants
Feb 4, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on motor cortex neuroplasticity in older adults, both alone and in combination with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and to compare these effects with those observed in young adults. Normal aging is associated with changes in the central nervous system that can affect motor function, sensorimotor integration, and cortical inhibitory mechanisms. These alterations may reduce the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, which is essential for motor learning and functional adaptation. Physical exercise has been proposed as a potential strategy to counteract age-related decline in neuroplasticity. In this study, healthy young and older adults will participate in three experimental sessions. Participants will complete two experimental conditions in a randomized crossover design: (1) aerobic exercise followed by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and (2) physical inactivity followed by tDCS and a third session will assess the effects of exercise alone. Moderate aerobic exercise will consist of 20 minutes of cycling on an ergometer. Corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuit function will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and after each intervention. Neuroplasticity will be evaluated by measuring changes in motor evoked potentials recorded from a hand muscle of the dominant side. The primary objective is to determine whether aerobic exercise enhances tDCS-induced plasticity, and whether this enhancement differs between young and older adults. Secondary objectives include evaluating age-related differences in intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor integration processes. By improving understanding of how exercise interacts with brain stimulation to modulate motor cortex plasticity, this study may help inform strategies aimed at preserving motor function and functional independence in aging populations.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- Men or women aged 20 to 35 for the younger group and 65 to 80 for the older group.
- Healthy right-handed or left-handed subjects.
- Subjects who have signed an informed consent form.
- Ability to understand spoken and written French to follow study procedures.
- Subjects affiliated with or beneficiaries of a social security system.
Exclusion Criteria9
- History of psychaitric disorders : individuals with mental retardation or severe impairment of cognitive, behavioral, or emotional functions that prevent them from understanding the protocol and signing the informed consent form.
- Neurological history (epilepsy, stroke, brain or spinal cord surgery, and history of neurological diseases affecting motor skills and sensitivity, such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's).
- Inability to give informed consent (e.g., dementia, significant hearing impairment, insufficient language proficiency).
- Contraindications to TMS and tDCS : uncontrolled epilepsy, intracranial metallic foreign body, hearing aid or cochlear implant, implanted stimulator or pump, scalp skin lesion, high intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid shunt).
- Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device.
- Use of psychotropic drugs.
- Individuals under legal guardianship or curatorship.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Inability or recognized contraindication to physical activity.
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Interventions
Participants perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence between 60 and 70 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Participants remain seated for 20 minutes while watching a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration.
Single- and paired-pulse TMS is applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) to assess corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor circuit function. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is delivered for 20 minutes over the primary motor cortex (M1) at a current intensity of 2mA.
Locations(1)
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NCT07438808