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Older adults recruit dorsomedial prefrontal cortex to decrease negativity during retrieval of emotionally complex

Jaclyn H Ford1, Elizabeth A Kensinger1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Boston College, USA.

Neuropsychologia
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Older adults use brain mechanisms to reduce negative memory recall, especially for ambiguous events. This prefrontal cortex activity helps manage emotional experiences in daily life.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Aging

Background:

  • Previous research identified prefrontal cortex (PFC) mechanisms reducing negative episodic memory richness in older adults.
  • The current study investigated if this PFC-mediated control extends to real-world negative event retrieval.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine age differences in PFC engagement during autobiographical memory retrieval of real-world emotional events.
  • To determine if older adults employ a mechanism to down-regulate negativity associated with real-world negative memories.

Main Methods:

  • A scanned autobiographical memory task involving 56 participants (ages 18-83) using images from the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings.
  • Participants retrieved personal memories, elaborated on them, and rated memory valence (positivity/negativity).
  • Analysis focused on prefrontal cortex activity (dorsomedial PFC) in relation to memory content and valence ratings.

Main Results:

  • No age differences were observed in PFC contributions to retrieving autobiographical memories of primarily negative images.
  • An age-related reversal in dorsomedial PFC function emerged for mixed-valence images: increased negativity in young adults, decreased negativity in older adults.
  • Older adults showed reduced negativity ratings for mixed-valence memories compared to young adults.

Conclusions:

  • Older adults engage a PFC-mediated retrieval mechanism to reduce the negativity of real-world emotional memories.
  • This down-regulation appears specific to situations of emotional ambiguity.
  • Findings suggest implications for understanding older adults' emotional regulation and evaluation of negative life events.