Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
10:13
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Opposing effects of aging on large-scale brain systems for memory encoding and cognitive control
Alireza Salami1, Johan Eriksson, Lars Nyberg
1Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, S-90187, Umeå, Sweden. alireza.salami@physiol.umu.se
Summary
Aging impairs episodic memory by affecting brain networks. Older adults show reduced hippocampal activity during memory encoding, linked to brain structure changes and poorer memory performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Episodic memory decline is common with aging.
- Age-related changes in cognitive networks are linked to memory decline.
- Dissociating encoding and retrieval processes is crucial for understanding aging effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific influence of aging on memory encoding and retrieval processes.
- To identify age-related changes in associated brain systems.
- To differentiate between general cognitive-control networks and process-specific networks.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 292 participants (aged 25-80) were analyzed using multivariate partial-least-squares.
- Participants performed a face-name paired-associates task and an active baseline task.
- Brain scores were correlated with cognitive performance and chronological age.
Main Results:
- Two significant network patterns were identified: a general encoding-retrieval network and distinct encoding/retrieval networks.
- The anterior hippocampus was differentially engaged during encoding.
- Reduced hippocampal activity in older adults correlated with age and hippocampus atrophy, impacting memory performance.
Conclusions:
- Age-related structural brain changes, particularly hippocampus atrophy, lead to reduced recruitment of specific encoding networks.
- This inefficiency cascades into increased reliance on general cognitive-control networks.
- Findings highlight the link between structural brain changes, network recruitment, and episodic memory decline in aging.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:30Cognitive 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,...
01:19The 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...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...