EEG coherence obtained from an auditory oddball task increases with age.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Aging
• Brain Activity

Background:

• Previous neuroimaging studies (fMRI, PET) indicated increased bilateral brain activity in older adults during cognitive tasks.
• Changes in electroencephalography (EEG) coherence with aging during cognitive tasks have not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in EEG coherence associated with aging during a cognitive task.
• To determine if increased EEG coherence is present in older adults during cognitive processing.

Main Methods:

• An auditory oddball task, a standard cognitive function test, was administered.
• EEG coherence was analyzed in 11 young adults (mean age 27.8 years) and 10 older adults (mean age 61.3 years).
• Both interhemispheric and intrahemispheric (long- and short-range) coherence were assessed across different frequency bands.

Main Results:

• Older adults exhibited significantly higher interhemispheric coherence in the delta band.
• Short-range intrahemispheric coherence was elevated in older adults across theta, delta, and alpha bands.
• Increased coherence was observed in most other coherence types and bands, with the exception of long-range intrahemispheric coherence in the low gamma band.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first evidence that aging is associated with increased EEG coherence during a relatively simple cognitive task.
• The findings suggest alterations in brain network communication and functional connectivity with advancing age.