Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
10:13
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Cognitive neuroscience of aging
1Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, 3560 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada. cgrady@rotman-baycrest.on.ca
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|April 11, 2008
Summary
Cognitive neuroscience reveals that while basic brain mechanisms remain similar with age, older adults may show reduced activity in some areas and compensatory overrecruitment in others, impacting cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging of Aging
Background:
- Growing research in cognitive neuroscience of aging shows preserved neural mechanisms in older adults.
- Studies indicate similarities in brain activity patterns between young and old adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in brain activity during cognitive tasks.
- To explore the compensatory mechanisms in the aging brain.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of brain activity patterns in young and old adults across various cognitive tasks.
- Comparison of neural activity in specific brain regions like medial temporal and prefrontal cortex.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibit reduced activity in medial temporal and visual regions.
- Overrecruitment in prefrontal and parietal areas is observed in older adults, often correlating with better performance.
- Some age-related activity increases may indicate neural inefficiency rather than compensation.
Conclusions:
- Age-related cognitive decline is partly linked to reduced brain activity.
- Brain overrecruitment in older adults can be a compensatory mechanism for maintaining cognitive function.
- Future research should focus on conditions promoting compensation and enhancing quality of life in the elderly.
Related Concept Videos
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,...
01:26Aging
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:17Cognitivism
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
01:20Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is the field of psychology dedicated to examining how people think. It attempts to explain how and why we think the way we do by studying the interactions among human thinking, emotion, creativity, language, and problem-solving, as well as other cognitive processes. Cognitive psychology studies how information is processed and manipulated in remembering, thinking, and knowing.
This field emerged in the mid-20th century, following a period dominated by behaviorism, which...
This field emerged in the mid-20th century, following a period dominated by behaviorism, which...
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...