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Updated: May 22, 2026

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Associations between a neurophysiological marker of central cholinergic activity and cognitive functions in young and
Marielle Young-Bernier1, Yael Kamil, François Tremblay
1School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean Jacques Lussier Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
Background:
The deterioration of the central cholinergic system in aging is hypothesized to underlie declines in several cognitive domains, including memory and executive functions. However, there is surprisingly little direct evidence regarding acetylcholine's specific role(s) in normal human cognitive aging.
Methods:
We used short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a putative marker of cholinergic activity in vivo in young (n = 24) and older adults (n = 31).
Results:
We found a significant age difference in SAI, concordant with other evidence of cholinergic decline in normal aging. We also found clear age differences on several of the memory and one of the executive function measures. Individual differences in SAI levels predicted memory but not executive functions.
Conclusion:
Individual differences in SAI levels were better predictors of memory than executive functions. We discuss cases in which the relations between SAI and cognition might be even stronger, and refer to other age-related biological changes that may interact with cholinergic activity in cognitive aging.
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