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The Affective Neuroscience of Aging
1Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089;
Annual Review of Psychology
|October 6, 2015
Summary
Aging impacts physical and cognitive functions but spares emotional well-being. Key brain areas for emotion show resilience, though broader neural networks are affected, influencing emotional processing and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is linked to declines in physical and cognitive abilities.
- Emotional functioning generally remains stable or improves with age.
- Core emotional brain regions like the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex show relative preservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how age-related brain changes affect emotional processing.
- To examine the influence of aging on emotional regulation, attention, and decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on aging, brain structure/function, and emotional processing.
- Synthesis of findings on neurotransmitter systems and neural networks involved in emotion.
Main Results:
- While some emotional brain regions are resilient, broader neural changes impact emotional tasks.
- Age-related alterations affect attention to emotional stimuli, memory, and emotional expression recognition.
- Emotional regulation, risk-taking, and impulsivity are influenced by age-related neural modifications.
Conclusions:
- Emotional functioning's relative preservation in aging is complex, involving resilient core regions and altered interacting neural systems.
- Understanding these age-related brain changes is crucial for addressing emotional health and behavior in older adults.
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