We determined beta-band intermuscular (IMC) and corticomuscular coherence (CMC) as a function of age and walking balance difficulty. Younger (n=14, 23y) and older individuals (n=19, 71y) walked 13 m overground, on a 6-cm-wide ribbon overground, and on a 6-cm-wide (5-cm-high) beam. Walking distance as a proxy for walking balance and speed were computed. CMC was estimated between electroencephalographic signal at Cz electrode and surface electromyographic signals of seven leg muscles, while IMC was calculated in four pairs of leg muscles, during stance and swing gait phases. With increasing difficulty, walking balance decreased in old individuals and speed decreased gradually independent of age. Beam walking increased IMC, while age increased IMC in proximal muscle pairs, and decreased IMC in distal muscle pairs. Age and difficulty increased CMC independent of gait phases. Concluding, CMC and IMC increased with walking balance difficulty and age, except for distal muscle pairs, which had lower IMC with age. These findings suggest an age-related increase in corticospinal involvement in the neural control of walking balance. The datasets used in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

中文翻译：

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皮质肌肉和肌间一致性与年龄和步行平衡难度的函数关系


我们确定了β带肌间（IMC）和皮质肌相干性（CMC）作为年龄和步行平衡难度的函数。较年轻的个体（n = 14、23 岁）和较年长的个体（n = 19、71 岁）在地上 6 厘米宽的带子和 6 厘米宽（5 厘米高）的横梁上行走 13 m。计算步行距离作为步行平衡和速度的代表。 CMC 是通过 Cz 电极的脑电图信号和七个腿部肌肉的表面肌电图信号来估计的，而 IMC 是在站立和摆动步态阶段的四对腿部肌肉中计算的。随着难度的增加，老年人行走平衡能力下降，速度逐渐下降，与年龄无关。平衡木行走增加了 IMC，而年龄增加了近端肌肉对的 IMC，并降低了远端肌肉对的 IMC。年龄和难度会增加 CMC，与步态阶段无关。结论是，CMC 和 IMC 随着步行平衡难度和年龄的增加而增加，但远端肌肉对除外，其 IMC 随着年龄的增长而降低。这些发现表明，皮质脊髓参与步行平衡的神经控制与年龄相关。本研究中使用的数据集可根据合理要求从相应作者处获得。