Pre-frontal cortex activity in gait modulation in the older people

• Grant number: 17/23476-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi
• Grantee: Vinicius de Belli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The gait behavior is strongly influenced by the aging process, characterized by decrease in gait velocity and step length, and increase in step width and double support time. Studies have shown increased in cortical activity during gait and the pre-motor and pre-frontal cortices are predominantly responsible for gait velocity control. Although previous findings demonstrate the role of the pre-frontal cortex during usual gait and fast speed, studies have examined the gait in treadmill, which may be a limitation, since gait modulation is guided externally and not internally. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the pre-frontal cortex activity in gait modulation (usual x fast speed and in the floor) in the older people. Twenty older people will participate in this study. In the gait assessment, the participant will be asked to walk in an oval circuit under two experimental conditions: (I) usual walking and (II) fast speed walking. A carpet with pressure sensors will be positioned in the circuit to record gait parameters. The portable near-infrared functional spectroscopy system will record the pre-frontal cortical activity. The cortical activity and gait parameters will be compared between conditions by paired t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis will be used to evaluate the relationship between changes in the cortical activity and gait parameters, by condition.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE BELLI, VINICIUS; ORCIOLI-SILVA, DIEGO; BERETTA, VICTOR SPIANDOR; VITORIO, RODRIGO; ZAMPIER, VINICIUS CAVASSANO; NOBREGA-SOUSA, PRISCILA; DA CONCEIC, NUBIA RIBEIRO; GOBBI, LILIAN TERESA BUCKEN. Prefrontal Cortical Activity During Preferred and Fast Walking in Young and Older Adults: An fNIRS Study. Neuroscience, v. 473, p. 81-89, OCT 1 2021. (16/21499-1, 17/23476-1)