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:phd-defence-p-babaeeghazvini@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260921T064355 LOCATION:Online, via Zoom SUMMARY:PhD defence P. Babaeeghazvini X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Bimanual coordinatio n in the ageing brain

Disrupted brain connections make ha nd coordination more difficult for the elderly

Using advanced techniques such as dMRI and EEG, Babaeeghazvini investigated how structural connecti ons (white matter) and functional brain activity are related. Her res ults show that the quality of white matter connections between motor brain regions declines with age. This decline goes hand in hand with changes in functional activity, particularly in the left hemisphere.< /p>

That combination has clear consequences: the brain struggles mo re to synchronize signals properly. This creates interference between both hemispheres, leading to less precise and poorly coordinated mov ements with two hands. In addition, Babaeeghazvini discovered that br ain regions involved in visual processing also function differently i n older adults. This makes it more difficult to effectively use visua l information - essential for many daily activities - while moving.

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

More informa tion on the thesis

DESCRIPTION: Bimanual coordination in the ageing brain

Disrupted b rain connections make hand coordination more difficult for the elderl y

Coordinating both hands becomes harder as we age - and this is not only due to muscle strength, but primarily to changes in the brai n. This is evident from research by Parinaz Babaeeghazvini, who demon strates that aging leads to disruptions in both the structure and the cooperation of brain networks that control movement.Using advanced t echniques such as dMRI and EEG, Babaeeghazvini investigated how struc tural connections (white matter) and functional brain activity are re lated. Her results show that the quality of white matter connections between motor brain regions declines with age. This decline goes hand in hand with changes in functional activity, particularly in the lef t hemisphere.That combination has clear consequences: the brain strug gles more to synchronize signals properly. This creates interference between both hemispheres, leading to less precise and poorly coordina ted movements with two hands. In addition, Babaeeghazvini discovered that brain regions involved in visual processing also function differ ently in older adults. This makes it more difficult to effectively us e visual information - essential for many daily activities - while mo ving.The impact of these findings extends beyond the lab. Activities such as tying shoelaces, cooking, or operating digital devices requir e good coordination between both hands and visual control. It is prec isely these skills that prove vulnerable to aging.More information on the thesis END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR