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Examining Positivity Effect and Working Memory in Young-Old and Very Old Adults Using EEG-Derived Cognitive State
Joelle C Ruthig1, Dmitri P Poltavski1, Thomas Petros1
1University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA.
Research on Aging
|August 15, 2019
Summary
Very old adults (VOAs) exhibit a positivity effect, processing positive emotional stimuli more readily. This emotional working memory advantage in advanced age does not diminish and requires no extra cognitive effort.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- The positivity effect, an age-related bias towards positive stimuli, is documented in older adults but its upper age limits are unknown.
- Age-related cognitive decline typically affects cognitive working memory, but its impact on emotional working memory remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate emotional working memory and the positivity effect in very old adults (VOAs; 80+).
- To determine if the positivity effect changes with advanced age and its relationship with cognitive workload.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cognitive and emotional working memory in young-old (60-75) and very old adults (80+).
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to measure cognitive workload and engagement during memory tasks involving emotional images.
- Examined the moderating role of emotional valence on age-related differences in emotional working memory.
Main Results:
- A significant positivity effect was observed in very old adults (VOAs).
- This positivity effect in VOAs did not necessitate increased cognitive effort.
- EEG data suggested that the positivity effect in advanced age is sustained and does not diminish.
Conclusions:
- The positivity effect persists into very old age and is maintained without additional cognitive load.
- Emotional working memory does not necessarily decline in parallel with cognitive working memory in advanced aging.
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