Abstract
This study compared surface electromyogram (sEMG) changes associated with the motor learning process (MLP)
in young adults and elderly subjects. Participants performed 50 repetitions of arc drawing by connecting three points
on a computer tablet using elbow flexion-extension. sEMG changes of the biceps, anterior-deltoid, and mid-deltoid
were recorded. Drawing errors (differences between a perfect and drawn arc) were analyzed for each repetition.
Drawing error was not significantly different between groups. A significant reduction in mean sEMG was observed
in the young group alone. Furthermore, the elderly group had a higher percentage of low amplitude potentials in the
sEMG than the young group. These results suggest that a reduction in sEMG during the MLP does not commonly
occur in elderly subjects.
