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Age differences in the neural processing of semantics, within and beyond the core semantic network
1School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Neurobiology of Aging
|August 21, 2023
Summary
Older adults maintain semantic cognition through preserved brain networks. While some brain regions show increased activation with difficulty, overall semantic network function remains stable, suggesting effective compensation strategies in aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Aging impacts brain function and network activity.
- Semantic cognition, the ability to understand word meanings, is crucial for daily life.
- Understanding age-related changes in semantic processing is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related functional changes in brain regions and networks during semantic cognition.
- To examine how task difficulty affects brain activation in younger and older adults.
- To explore the neural mechanisms supporting semantic cognition in aging.
Main Methods:
- Preregistered Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study.
- Participants completed one nonsemantic and two semantic tasks.
- Analysis focused on activation in core semantic regions, the right inferior frontal gyrus, and large-scale brain networks.
Main Results:
- No age differences in core semantic region activation.
- Right inferior frontal gyrus showed increased activation with task difficulty in both age groups, suggesting compensation.
- Older adults exhibited greater default mode network and reduced executive multiple-demand network engagement.
- Semantic control regions showed age-invariant activation.
- Older adults had reduced demand-related modulation of the multiple-demand network in a nonsemantic task.
Conclusions:
- Preserved function in specialized semantic networks supports semantic cognition in aging.
- Age-related neural changes involve compensatory upregulation in areas like the right inferior frontal gyrus.
- Network-level differences (default mode vs. executive networks) reflect cognitive changes associated with aging.
- These findings offer insights into the neural basis of semantic cognition maintenance in later life.
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