Illustration symbolizing the connection between cognitive function and motor control in aging.

Sharpen Your Mind, Steady Your Hand: How Cognitive Skills Impact Motor Control as We Age

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Uncover the surprising link between cognitive function and physical steadiness, and learn how to protect both as you age."

Precise motor control is essential for many everyday activities, from cooking and using touch screen devices. These tasks don't just rely on strong muscles; they also require sharp cognitive function. Attention, memory, and executive function are all vital for coordinating our movements.

Executive function, in particular, allows us to plan, organize, and switch between tasks – crucial when we're juggling multiple demands. Think about following a recipe while keeping an eye on the kids: that's executive function in action. Unfortunately, both motor and cognitive skills tend to decline as we age.

New research investigates whether age-related changes in physical steadiness and cognitive function are connected. The findings reveal a surprising link: executive function plays a key role in maintaining motor control, especially when we're faced with cognitively demanding tasks. Understanding this connection is the first step toward protecting both our minds and bodies as we age.

The Surprising Link Between Mind and Muscle

Illustration symbolizing the connection between cognitive function and motor control in aging.

The study, published in Frontiers in Physiology, explored the relationship between executive function and force steadiness – the ability to maintain a consistent level of muscle force. Researchers recruited 60 older adults (60-85 years old) and 48 young adults (19-30 years old) to perform a simple task: maintaining a steady elbow flexion at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC).

However, there was a catch. Sometimes, participants performed the task while also doing a mental math exercise – counting backward by 13 from a four-digit number. This cognitive challenge was designed to test how well participants could maintain their physical steadiness while also engaging their executive function.

Measuring Steadiness: Force steadiness was measured by quantifying the coefficient of variation (CV) of force. A higher CV indicates greater variability, and thus, lower steadiness.
Assessing Executive Function: Executive function was evaluated using the Trail-making Test, a standard neuropsychological assessment. Part A of the test measures attention and motor speed, while Part B assesses cognitive flexibility and the ability to switch between tasks.
The Impact of Cognitive Load: Researchers compared force steadiness during the control trial (no math) and the cognitive challenge trial (with math) to see how mental exertion affected motor control.

The results revealed that the cognitive challenge significantly reduced force steadiness, especially in older adults. Moreover, performance on the Trail-making Test was correlated with force steadiness during the cognitive challenge: those with poorer executive function skills exhibited greater difficulty maintaining a steady muscle contraction while also performing mental math.

Protecting Your Mind and Body: Practical Takeaways

These findings highlight the importance of maintaining strong executive function skills as we age. Not only does it help us with mental tasks, but it also plays a vital role in preserving our physical coordination and steadiness. The good news is that executive function can be improved with targeted training and lifestyle changes.

Here are a few strategies to consider:

<ul> <li>Engage in mentally stimulating activities: Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, learning a new language, or playing strategy games can all help sharpen your mind and boost executive function.</li> <li>Stay physically active: Regular exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function, including executive function. Aim for a mix of aerobic exercise and strength training.</li> <li>Practice multitasking: Gradually challenge yourself with dual-task activities, such as walking while talking or cooking while listening to a podcast. Start with simple combinations and gradually increase the complexity.</li> <li>Manage stress: Chronic stress can impair cognitive function. Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature.</li> <li>Prioritize sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for cognitive health. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.</li> </ul>

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01316, Alternate LINK

Title: Force Steadiness During A Cognitively Challenging Motor Task Is Predicted By Executive Function In Older Adults

Subject: Physiology (medical)

Journal: Frontiers in Physiology

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Authors: Hugo M. Pereira, Bonnie Schlinder-Delap, Kristy A. Nielson, Sandra K. Hunter

Published: 2018-10-02

Everything You Need To Know

How does executive function affect our ability to maintain physical steadiness, especially as we age?

Executive function plays a critical role in coordinating movements. It allows us to plan, organize, and switch between tasks, which is vital when juggling multiple demands. The study in *Frontiers in Physiology* demonstrates a link between executive function and force steadiness. When cognitive load increases, as shown in the mental math exercise, force steadiness decreases, especially in older adults. The Trail-making Test results correlated with force steadiness, indicating those with poorer executive function skills struggled more with maintaining a steady muscle contraction during mental tasks.

How was the connection between executive function and motor control studied in the Frontiers in Physiology research?

The study in *Frontiers in Physiology* involved 60 older adults (60-85 years old) and 48 young adults (19-30 years old). Participants maintained a steady elbow flexion at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). To assess the impact of cognitive load, they performed this task while also doing a mental math exercise—counting backward by 13 from a four-digit number. Force steadiness was measured by quantifying the coefficient of variation (CV) of force, and executive function was evaluated using the Trail-making Test.

What specific methods are used to evaluate executive function in the context of motor control research?

The study used the Trail-making Test to assess executive function. Part A measures attention and motor speed, while Part B assesses cognitive flexibility and the ability to switch between tasks. By comparing performance on the Trail-making Test with force steadiness during cognitive challenges, the researchers could determine the extent to which executive function impacts motor control. The results highlighted that poorer executive function correlated with a greater difficulty in maintaining physical steadiness under cognitive load.

What exactly is force steadiness, and how does it relate to cognitive function and aging?

Force steadiness, or the ability to maintain a consistent level of muscle force, is crucial for everyday activities. The study in *Frontiers in Physiology* measured force steadiness by quantifying the coefficient of variation (CV) of force. A higher CV indicates greater variability, and thus, lower steadiness. The research showed that cognitive challenges, like performing mental math, significantly reduce force steadiness, especially in older adults, emphasizing the link between cognitive function and motor control.

What are the implications of the findings regarding the relationship between cognitive skills and motor control for aging adults?

The findings suggest that maintaining and improving executive function can help preserve physical coordination and steadiness as we age. By engaging in targeted training and adopting lifestyle changes that boost cognitive skills, individuals may be able to mitigate the age-related decline in motor control. The importance of executive function extends beyond mental tasks; it plays a crucial role in physical performance, highlighting the interconnectedness of mind and body.