Lifespan trajectories of motor control and neural oscillations: A systematic review of magnetoencephalography insights

Abstract

Motor control (MC) evolves across the human lifespan, improving during childhood and adolescence, stabilizing in early adulthood, and declining in older age. These developmental and degenerative patterns are linked to neural oscillatory activity, which can be assessed via magnetoencephalography (MEG) to gain insights into motor planning, execution, termination, and command initiation. This review systematically examined age-related changes in MC and neural oscillations, centering on movement-related beta desynchronization (MRBD), post-movement beta rebound (PMBR), and movement-related gamma synchrony (MRGS). Following PRISMA guidelines, 17 cross-sectional studies were identified. The findings revealed significant enhancements in motor efficiency from childhood to adolescence, characterized by faster movement speed, shorter movement duration, weaker MRBD, and increased PMBR and MRGS. From adolescence to early adulthood, further improvements in motor performance were noted, accompanied by strengthened MRBD, PMBR, and a slight decline in MRGS. In older adults, motor performance deteriorates, presenting as slower movement and prolonged duration, alongside heightened resting beta power, elevated MRBD, and reduced PMBR. Alterations in MRGS remain insufficiently explored. Overall, MEG proves valuable for capturing neural dynamics underlying the development and decline of motor control across the lifespan. These findings underscore potential avenues for motor rehabilitation and cognitive interventions, particularly in aging populations.