Das menschliche Gehirn altert weniger als Gedanken und in Schichten – zumindest im Bereich des Gehirnrinals verantwortlich für den Sinn des Touchs

> In the current study, not only the middle layer of the cortex but also the areas above were found to be remarkably resistant to the aging process. The different layers were distinguished based on their content of myelin, a substance essential for the transmission of nerve signals. “The middle layer is effectively the gateway for haptic stimuli. In the layers above, further processing occurs,” says Kühn. “For example, in the case of sensory stimuli from the hand, the upper layers are particularly involved in the interaction between neighboring fingers. This is important when grasping objects. We therefore also did tests on the tactile sensitivity and motor ability of the hand with our study participants. Furthermore, we performed so-called functional MRI scans to capture the function of the middle layer of the cortex, where the signals are received.”

> I therefore see our findings as an indication that the brain preserves what is used intensively. That’s a feature of neuroplasticity. This is also consistent with our observations regarding a study participant, who was 52 years old. He had to rely on just one arm throughout his life, as he was born with a missing limb. The corresponding middle layer of his cerebral cortex, the one getting sensory inputs, was comparatively thin.” In addition, differences in the aging of the brain’s layers may explain why some abilities decline with age, while others do less. “Sensorimotor skills that are repeatedly practiced, such as typing on a keyboard, can remain stable for a long time, even in old age,” says Kühn. “However, if there are interfering stimuli, such as a noisy environment, older people usually find such activities particularly difficult. This could be because the functionality of the deep layers of the cortex has deteriorated, the modulation of sensory stimuli thus being impaired.”

> “Together, our findings are consistent with the general idea that we can do something good for our brains with appropriate stimulation. I think it’s an optimistic notion that we can influence our aging process to a certain degree,”

[Layer-specific changes in sensory cortex across the lifespan in mice and humans | Nature Neuroscience](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02013-1)