Effects of age on negative BOLD signal changes in the primary somatosensory cortex

► Peripheral somatosensory stimulation in young and old subjects during fMRI ► Contralateral positive and ipsilateral negative BOLD signal changes ► Lower negative and positive BOLD signals in old subjects indicating age-dependence ► Psychophysical testing with less change in current perception threshold in aging ► Healthy aging seems to be associated with a decrease in intracerebral inhibition.