Cortical functional connectivity across the adult lifespan and its relation to sensorimotor integration

The operation of the human brain relies on functional networks enabled by inter-areal oscillatory synchronization between neuronal populations. Although disruptions in this functional connectivity are associated with brain disorders, evidence on its healthy age-dependent variation and behavioral relevance remains limited. Utilizing magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings from 576 adults, we investigated the evolution of resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) across the healthy adult lifespan. We observed age-related, frequency-specific changes in widespread cortical networks. Alpha-band (8–13 Hz) rs-FC decreased and theta-band (4–8 Hz) rs-FC increased with age, while beta-band (13–30 Hz) rs-FC followed a non-linear trajectory, peaking in middle age. These patterns differed from concurrent changes in oscillatory power, underscoring their dissociable contributions. Notably, reduced beta-band rs-FC was associated with increased sensorimotor attenuation, indicating that changes in rs-FC are behaviorally relevant. These findings advance our understanding of healthy brain aging and highlight a link between resting-state brain activity and sensorimotor integration.