Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026
13:34
Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice
Published on: June 4, 2020
8.9K
Functional Hemispheric (A)symmetries in the Aged Brain-Relevance for Working Memory
Madalena Esteves1,2,3, Ricardo Magalhães1,2,3, Paulo Marques1,2,3
1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|March 30, 2018
Summary
Brain activity asymmetry changes with age. In older adults, right-sided brain activity in specific regions supports working memory performance on the N-Back task, particularly in the superior parietal lobule.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Aging Research
Background:
- Functional hemispheric asymmetries are observed in various cognitive functions, influencing normal brain function and neuropsychiatric conditions.
- Brain activity lateralization patterns change across the lifespan and are hypothesized to diminish with aging, though direct links to cognitive function remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional laterality during a working memory task in healthy older adults (over 50).
- To correlate observed brain asymmetries with working memory task performance.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of healthy individuals over 50 years old performed the N-Back working memory task.
- Functional brain activity and hemispheric asymmetries were assessed during task performance.
Main Results:
- Specific brain regions showed lateralized activity: cerebellar lobule VI and angular gyrus to the right, and precentral gyrus with left > right activation.
- Working memory performance (1-Back accuracy) positively correlated with left > right activation in the superior parietal lobule, primarily driven by left hemisphere activity.
Conclusions:
- While most brain regions exhibited symmetrical activation during the N-Back task, working memory in aging individuals appears to benefit from the lateralized engagement of the superior parietal lobule.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
2.1K
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...
2.1K
01:26Symmetry
222
The equation of an ellipse centered at the origin defines all points whose distances from the center maintain a constant ratio between the horizontal and vertical axes. This equation results in a smooth, closed curve that extends further along the x-axis than the y-axis, giving it a horizontal orientation. Such an ellipse demonstrates three kinds of symmetry: across the x-axis, across the y-axis, and about the origin. These symmetries are essential in understanding the graph's structure and...
222
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
2.5K
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
2.5K
01:27Gauss's Law: Planar Symmetry
9.6K
A planar symmetry of charge density is obtained when charges are uniformly spread over a large flat surface. In planar symmetry, all points in a plane parallel to the plane of charge are identical with respect to the charges. Suppose the plane of the charge distribution is the xy-plane, and the electric field at a space point P with coordinates (x, y, z) is to be determined. Since the charge density is the same at all (x, y) - coordinates in the z = 0 plane, by symmetry, the electric field at P...
9.6K
01:28Symmetry in Maxwell's Equations
4.2K
Once the fields have been calculated using Maxwell's four equations, the Lorentz force equation gives the force that the fields exert on a charged particle moving with a certain velocity. The Lorentz force equation combines the force of the electric field and of the magnetic field on the moving charge. Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force law together encompass all the laws of electricity and magnetism. The symmetry that Maxwell introduced into his mathematical framework may not be...
4.2K
01:26Aging
801
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...
801