Dinse Hubert R, Kleibel Nadine, Kalisch Tobias, Ragert Patrick, Wilimzig Claudia, Tegenthoff Martin
Department of Theoretical Biology, Institute for Neuroinformatics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Ann Neurol. 2006 Jul;60(1):88-94. doi: 10.1002/ana.20862.
For young subjects, it is well-documented that training and practice improve sensorimotor performance. However, little is known about how the typically observed age-related decline of sensorimotor abilities can be ameliorated by sensory stimulation.
As an alternative approach to training, we have introduced a tactile coactivation protocol involving Hebbian synaptic plasticity to improve tactile performance on a short timescale of a few hours.
By applying coactivation on the index finger to drive perceptual learning, we demonstrate that in the elderly, aged 65 to 89 years, the age-related impairment of tactile two-point discrimination can be mitigated substantially. In elderly adults, tactile-acuity thresholds increased to 3.5mm compared with 1.5mm found in young adults, whereas 50-year-old subjects showed intermediate performance. As a result of coactivation, discrimination thresholds of the 80-year-old adults came to match those typically found at an age of 50, demonstrating that age-related decline in tactile performance is not irreversible, but rather subject to considerable restoration by specific stimulation protocols.
Because the preservation of sufficient tactile acuity into advanced age is an important prerequisite for the maintenance of autonomous living, we believe that the concept of coactivation might turn out to be beneficial in preserving everyday sensorimotor competence in the elderly through new forms of therapeutic interventions.
对于年轻受试者，已有充分文献证明训练和练习可改善感觉运动表现。然而，关于感觉刺激如何改善通常观察到的与年龄相关的感觉运动能力下降，我们却知之甚少。
作为训练的一种替代方法，我们引入了一种涉及赫布突触可塑性的触觉共同激活方案，以在短短几个小时的时间尺度上改善触觉表现。
通过对食指应用共同激活来驱动感知学习，我们证明在65至89岁的老年人中，与年龄相关的触觉两点辨别能力损害可得到显著缓解。在老年人中，触觉敏锐度阈值增加到3.5毫米，而在年轻人中为1.5毫米，50岁的受试者表现居中。由于共同激活，80岁成年人的辨别阈值达到了通常在50岁时的水平，这表明与年龄相关的触觉表现下降并非不可逆转，而是可以通过特定的刺激方案得到相当程度的恢复。
由于在高龄时保持足够的触觉敏锐度是维持自主生活的重要前提，我们认为共同激活的概念可能会通过新的治疗干预形式，在保持老年人日常感觉运动能力方面发挥有益作用。
