Influence of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Sensorimotor Networks in Older Adults
EXOPLASTIC
1 other identifier
interventional
66
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on motor cortex neuroplasticity in older adults, both alone and in combination with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and to compare these effects with those observed in young adults. Normal aging is associated with changes in the central nervous system that can affect motor function, sensorimotor integration, and cortical inhibitory mechanisms. These alterations may reduce the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, which is essential for motor learning and functional adaptation. Physical exercise has been proposed as a potential strategy to counteract age-related decline in neuroplasticity. In this study, healthy young and older adults will participate in three experimental sessions. Participants will complete two experimental conditions in a randomized crossover design: (1) aerobic exercise followed by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and (2) physical inactivity followed by tDCS and a third session will assess the effects of exercise alone. Moderate aerobic exercise will consist of 20 minutes of cycling on an ergometer. Corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuit function will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and after each intervention. Neuroplasticity will be evaluated by measuring changes in motor evoked potentials recorded from a hand muscle of the dominant side. The primary objective is to determine whether aerobic exercise enhances tDCS-induced plasticity, and whether this enhancement differs between young and older adults. Secondary objectives include evaluating age-related differences in intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor integration processes. By improving understanding of how exercise interacts with brain stimulation to modulate motor cortex plasticity, this study may help inform strategies aimed at preserving motor function and functional independence in aging populations.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Feb 2026
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
February 4, 2026
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
February 22, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 27, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
July 1, 2026
February 27, 2026
February 1, 2026
5 months
February 22, 2026
February 22, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Corticospinal excitability
Corticospinal excitability will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to the primary motor cortex. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded using surface electromyography from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand. Single pulses of increasing intensity will be delivered to establish an input-output (I/O) recruitment curve. The stimulation intensity will be increased in steps of 3 to 5%, and 10 stimuli will be delivered per stimulation intensity. I/O curves will be fitted using a Boltzmann sigmoid function. Three parameters will be derived : slope, plateau and S50. These parameters will be compared across experimental conditions. The primary outcome will be the slope of the I/O curve, reflecting the recruitment rate of neurons in the corticospinal tract, indicating the level of corticospinal excitability.
Assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention during each of the three experimental sessions (aerobic exercise + tDCS, physical inactivity + tDCS and aerobic exercise alone).
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Intracortical and sensorimotor circuits of M1
Baseline and post-intervention
Other Outcomes (3)
Global Physical Activity Questionnaire
Baseline
Edinburgh Handedness Inventory
Baseline
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
The level of pain will be assessed before each session. If pain is present, the participant will re-evaluate it at the end of each session.
Study Arms (3)
Physical Activity + tDCS
EXPERIMENTALParticipants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). Immediately after exercise, participants receive 20 minutes of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1). Post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following the combined aerobic exercise and anodal tDCS intervention.
Physical Inactivity + tDCS
EXPERIMENTALParticipants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then remain seated for 20 minutes and watch a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration. This condition is designed to provide a standardized and controlled resting period comparable across participants. Immediately after, participants receive 20 minutes of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1). Post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following the combined physical inactivity and anodal tDCS intervention.
Physical Activity
EXPERIMENTALParticipants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). Immediately after exercise, post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following aerobic exercise alone.
Interventions
Single- and paired-pulse TMS is applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) to assess corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor circuit function. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is delivered for 20 minutes over the primary motor cortex (M1) at a current intensity of 2mA.
Participants perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence between 60 and 70 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Participants remain seated for 20 minutes while watching a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Men or women aged 20 to 35 for the younger group and 65 to 80 for the older group.
- Healthy right-handed or left-handed subjects.
- Subjects who have signed an informed consent form.
- Ability to understand spoken and written French to follow study procedures.
- Subjects affiliated with or beneficiaries of a social security system.
You may not qualify if:
- History of psychaitric disorders : individuals with mental retardation or severe impairment of cognitive, behavioral, or emotional functions that prevent them from understanding the protocol and signing the informed consent form.
- Neurological history (epilepsy, stroke, brain or spinal cord surgery, and history of neurological diseases affecting motor skills and sensitivity, such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's).
- Inability to give informed consent (e.g., dementia, significant hearing impairment, insufficient language proficiency).
- Contraindications to TMS and tDCS : uncontrolled epilepsy, intracranial metallic foreign body, hearing aid or cochlear implant, implanted stimulator or pump, scalp skin lesion, high intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid shunt).
- Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device.
- Use of psychotropic drugs.
- Individuals under legal guardianship or curatorship.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Inability or recognized contraindication to physical activity.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Eurasport
Loos, Nord, 59120, France
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Masking Details
- Each participant will be assigned a unique random identification number
- Purpose
- BASIC SCIENCE
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
February 22, 2026
First Posted
February 27, 2026
Study Start
February 4, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2026
Last Updated
February 27, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-02
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share