BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence P. Babaeeghazvini METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260407T154500 DTEND:20260407T171500 DTSTAMP:20260407T154500 UID:2026/phd-defence-p-babaeeghazv@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260411T174232 LOCATION:via Zoom Online SUMMARY:PhD defence P. Babaeeghazvini X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Bimanual coordination i n the ageing brain

Disrupted brain connections make hand coor dination more difficult for the elderly

Coordinating both hand s becomes harder as we age - and this is not only due to muscle stren gth, but primarily to changes in the brain. This is evident from rese arch by Parinaz Babaeeghazvini, who demonstrates that aging leads to disruptions in both the structure and the cooperation of brain networ ks that control movement.

Using advanced techniques such as dMR I and EEG, Babaeeghazvini investigated how structural connections (wh ite matter) and functional brain activity are related. Her results sh ow that the quality of white matter connections between motor brain r egions declines with age. This decline goes hand in hand with changes in functional activity, particularly in the left hemisphere.

T hat combination has clear consequences: the brain struggles more to s ynchronize signals properly. This creates interference between both h emispheres, leading to less precise and poorly coordinated movements with two hands. In addition, Babaeeghazvini discovered that brain reg ions involved in visual processing also function differently in older adults. This makes it more difficult to effectively use visual infor mation - essential for many daily activities - while moving.

Th e impact of these findings extends beyond the lab. Activities such as tying shoelaces, cooking, or operating digital devices require good coordination between both hands and visual control. It is precisely t hese skills that prove vulnerable to aging.

More information on the thesis

DESCRIPTION:

Disrupted brain connections make hand coordination mo re difficult for the elderly

Coordinating both hands becomes har der as we age - and this is not only due to muscle strength, but prim arily to changes in the brain. This is evident from research by Parin az Babaeeghazvini, who demonstrates that aging leads to disruptions i n both the structure and the cooperation of brain networks that contr ol movement. Using advanced techniques such as dMRI and EEG, Babaeegh azvini investigated how structural connections (white matter) and fun ctional brain activity are related. Her results show that the quality of white matter connections between motor brain regions declines wit h age. This decline goes hand in hand with changes in functional acti vity, particularly in the left hemisphere. That combination has clear consequences: the brain struggles more to synchronize signals proper ly. This creates interference between both hemispheres, leading to le ss precise and poorly coordinated movements with two hands. In additi on, Babaeeghazvini discovered that brain regions involved in visual p rocessing also function differently in older adults. This makes it mo re difficult to effectively use visual information - essential for ma ny daily activities - while moving. The impact of these findings exte nds beyond the lab. Activities such as tying shoelaces, cooking, or o perating digital devices require good coordination between both hands and visual control. It is precisely these skills that prove vulnerab le to aging. More information on the thesis Bimanual coordina tion in the ageing brain END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR