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Diminished State Space Theory of Human Aging
Ben Eppinger1,2,3,4, Alexa Ruel2,3,5, Florian Bolenz6,7
1Institute of Psychology, University of Greifswald.
Summary
Older adults struggle with new technologies due to difficulties representing complex task structures, known as state spaces. This neurocomputational study links these challenges to age-related deficits in brain regions crucial for decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- New technologies like smartphones present challenges for older adults.
- These technologies share common features involving partially observable structures (state spaces) that guide goal-directed actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a theoretical, neurocomputational explanation for behavioral difficulties in older adults using new technologies.
- To investigate the link between age-related cognitive impairments and the representation of state spaces.
Main Methods:
- Review of age-comparative computational and cognitive neuroscience studies.
- Development of a neurocomputational model to explain age-related deficits in goal-directed behavior.
Main Results:
- Age-related impairments in complex goal-directed behavior stem from deficits in representing cognitive task state spaces.
- These deficits in adaptive decision-making are associated with reduced neural representations in the orbitofrontal cortex and hippocampus.
Conclusions:
- Older adults' difficulties with technology are explained by impaired state space representation.
- Neurocomputational models can elucidate age-related declines in cognitive functions like decision-making.
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