Reliable differences in brain activity between young and old adults: a quantitative meta-analysis across multiple
R Nathan Spreng1, Magdalena Wojtowicz, Cheryl L Grady
1Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. nathan.spreng@gmail.com
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|January 30, 2010
Summary
Neuroimaging studies reveal distinct brain activity patterns in older adults, particularly in prefrontal regions, compared to younger adults during cognitive tasks. These findings offer insights into neurocognitive aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cognitive aging research investigates age-related changes in brain function.
- Neuroimaging techniques allow for the examination of brain activity during cognitive tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze neuroimaging studies on cognition in old versus young adults.
- To identify age-related differences in brain activation patterns across various cognitive domains.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of the neuroimaging literature.
- Meta-analysis using Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) technique.
- Analysis of 80 independent samples, considering performance levels and cognitive domains.
Main Results:
- Age differences in brain activity primarily involved the 'task-positive network'.
- Older adults showed increased prefrontal cortex engagement, especially the left prefrontal cortex when performance was equivalent.
- Younger adults exhibited greater occipital lobe activation, particularly in perceptual tasks with unequal performance.
Conclusions:
- Significant age-related differences in brain activation exist, particularly in prefrontal and occipital regions.
- Findings provide evidence for distinct neurocognitive aging trajectories.
- Results are discussed in the context of current theories of neurocognitive aging.
