Age-related deterioration of coordinated interlimb behavior

Younger and older participants performed two-limb coordination patterns of homologous (similar) and nonhomologous (dissimilar) effecters during 1:1 sy nchronization, according to the in-phase or anti-phase mode. The aim of the study was to examine age-related changes during the production of these ba sic movement patterns and their relative stability difference. The findings revealed that the aging process modulated the coordination dynamics as a f unction of effector system characteristics. Whereas the homologous system w as resistant to age-related deficits, movements of the nonhomologous system showed coordinative degradation that was most apparent during execution of the anti-phase mode. The latter performance regression is argued to be an expression of age-dependent declines in cognitive regulation and afferent i nformation processing. This implies that deterioration in coordinated behav ior across the Life span may be strongly task dependent because of a combin ed effect of cognitive and sensory components.