Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
10:13
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Effects of aging and gender on interhemispheric function
1Department of Communication Disorders, University of South Dakota, Vermillion 57069, USA. tbellis@usd.edu
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|April 28, 2001
Summary
Brain hemisphere communication via the corpus callosum declines in adults aged 40-55. This decline impacts auditory and visuomotor tasks, with gender influencing the rate of interhemispheric function changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Aging Research
Background:
- The corpus callosum facilitates communication between brain hemispheres, crucial for sensory, motor, and cognitive functions.
- Aging is associated with structural changes in the corpus callosum, potentially influenced by gender.
- Age- and gender-related changes may impair functions reliant on interhemispheric integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how age and gender affect auditory and visuomotor temporal indices of interhemispheric function throughout adulthood.
- To identify the lifespan period when interhemispheric function begins to decline.
Main Methods:
- Studied 120 right-handed adults aged 20-75 years.
- Assessed interhemispheric integrity using dichotic listening, auditory temporal patterning, and visuomotor interhemispheric transfer time tasks.
Main Results:
- Interhemispheric integrity significantly decreases between ages 40 and 55, with no further decline afterward.
- The trajectory of this decline differs between men and women for specific tasks.
- Age-related decline in interhemispheric function was observed across auditory and visuomotor domains.
Conclusions:
- Reduced interhemispheric function may contribute to age-related auditory and communication challenges.
- Findings have implications for assessing interhemispheric function in aging adults.
- Further research is needed on the functional consequences of declining interhemispheric transfer.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...