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Age effects on the neural correlates of successful memory encoding
Alexa M Morcom1, Catriona D Good, Richard S J Frackowiak
1Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University College London, London, UK. a.morcom@ucl.ac.uk
Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|December 13, 2002
Summary
Older adults use similar brain regions for memory encoding as younger adults, but show differences in prefrontal and temporal cortex activity. This suggests age-related changes in neural pathways for successful memory formation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Memory encoding is crucial for forming new memories.
- Age-related cognitive changes can affect memory performance.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows investigation of brain activity during cognitive tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-associated differences in neural correlates of memory encoding.
- To dissociate age-related changes from performance differences in memory.
- To examine brain activity patterns during successful memory encoding in younger and older adults.
Main Methods:
- Event-related functional MRI (fMRI) was employed.
- 14 younger (mean age 21) and 14 older (mean age 68) adults performed an animacy decision task.
- Recognition memory was tested at two delays to equate performance levels.
Main Results:
- Both age groups showed increased activity in left inferior prefrontal cortex and left hippocampal formation for subsequently recognized words.
- Subsequent memory effects in prefrontal cortex were left-lateralized in younger adults but bilateral in older adults.
- Younger adults showed greater activity in anterior inferior temporal cortex for remembered words, and 'subsequent forgetting' effects in anterior prefrontal regions.
Conclusions:
- Older adults utilize similar neural circuitry as younger adults for memory encoding.
- Significant age-related differences exist in prefrontal and temporal brain activity during successful episodic encoding.
- These findings highlight specific neural patterns associated with aging and memory.