Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Age-related changes in prefrontal cortex activity are associated with behavioural deficits in both temporal and
M Natasha Rajah1, Rafael Languay, Luc Valiquette
1Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. natasha.rajah@douglas.mcgill.ca
Abstract:
Aging is associated with decrements in both spatial and temporal context retrieval. Functional neuroimaging studies of young adults suggest that there are differences in left versus right lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) contributions to spatial versus temporal source (recency) retrieval, respectively. The goal of the current study was to determine if age-related decreases in temporal and spatial context retrieval are due to common or distinct changes in PFC function. To address this goal we conducted an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in which young and older adults performed recognition, recency and spatial context retrieval tasks using face stimuli to identify event-related PFC regions associated with these retrieval tasks in both age groups. Our behavioural results indicated that older adults did not differ on recognition performance, but did exhibit a deficit in both context retrieval tasks, compared to young adults. The fMRI results suggest that age-related deficits in both spatial and temporal context retrieval may be linked to functional changes in right dorsolateral and left medial anterior PFC (APFC) function. In addition, based on brain-behaviour correlations in older adults, our results imply that older adults attempt to compensate for these deficits by engaging left dorsolateral PFC during spatial context retrieval and right APFC during temporal context retrieval.
More Related Videos
11:01Examining the Characteristics of Episodic Memory using Event-related Potentials in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: August 30, 2011
06:23The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Role of Hippocampus in Memory
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...