# Neurobiological Substrates of Visual-Somatosensory Integration in Aging

> **NIH NIH K01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $105,300

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 A rapidly growing field of cognitive neuroscience referred to as multisensory integration (MSI) investigates
the complexities of processing simultaneous sensory information. Primarily, MSI has been investigated in
pairings of the three “major” senses (i.e., visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems), which are typically
referred to as: auditory-somatosensory (AS), auditory-visual (AV), and visual-somatosensory (VS)
combinations. Successful integration of concurrent information across multiple sensory modalities is crucial for
functioning in the real world, completion of activities of daily living, and mobility.
 To date, only few studies have investigated multisensory processing in older adults and have predominately
focused on AV interactions. Fewer still have related MSI to real world activities. Results from a study
conducted in our laboratory revealed that compared to younger adults, older adults demonstrated a
significantly larger reaction time benefit when processing concurrent VS information; two sensory modalities
that clearly play an important role in everyday gait and balance. Further, our most recent work indicates
differential patterns of multisensory processing in aging where individuals with larger (i.e., worse) VS
multisensory effects manifested worse static balance, reported more falls, and endorsed less engagement in
physical activities compared to elders with smaller MSI effects. These results provide support for the notion
that VS integration measured behaviorally might reflect age-related physiological declines in unisensory
processing.
 The facilitative benefit of VS information processing in older adults has major public health implications
since unisensory visual and somatosensory impairments have been linked to functional decline, increased
risks of falls, slower gait velocity, and poorer quality of life. Additionally, the effect of MSI has been attributed
to basic degenerative changes in neuronal architecture during the aging process; however, this speculative
interpretation has yet to be empirically tested. Furthermore, the functional and structural neural correlates
of VS integration in aging have not been established - determining the neurobiological substrates of VS
integration in aging and the association of such enhancement with various motor outcomes in older adults
would be paramount to one day help identify opportunities to introduce cognitive and physical remediation
programs that incorporate VS enhancement strategies in an effort to maintain functional independence.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10358968
- **Project number:** 3K01AG049813-06S1
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeannette R. Mahoney
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $105,300
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10358968

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10358968, Neurobiological Substrates of Visual-Somatosensory Integration in Aging (3K01AG049813-06S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10358968. Licensed CC0.

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