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Aging effects on the encoding/retrieval flip in associative memory: fMRI evidence from incidental contingency
Else Schneider1, Marko Rajkovic2,3, Rudolf Krug4
1Center of Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|March 28, 2024
Summary
Older adults show impaired associative memory retrieval and altered brain activity patterns, specifically in the anterior insula and posterior cingulate cortex. These changes in encoding/retrieval (E/R) flips may indicate early neural aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Associative memory is fundamental for episodic and semantic memory.
- Age-related decline in associative memory is a hallmark of cognitive aging, affecting both healthy and pathological aging.
- Neural mechanisms of age-related associative memory decline, particularly in incidental learning, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of aging on incidental learning and memory retrieval of face-name associations.
- To examine age-related changes in encoding/retrieval (E/R) flips using fMRI.
Main Methods:
- Compared incidental learning and memory retrieval of face-name pairs in young (N=23) and elderly (N=22) participants.
- Utilized fMRI to assess neural activity and encoding/retrieval (E/R) flips.
Main Results:
- Elderly participants exhibited significantly poorer retrieval performance compared to younger adults.
- Older adults showed an abolished E/R flip in the right anterior insula.
- A reduced E/R flip activation magnitude was observed in the posterior middle cingulate cortex of older subjects.
Conclusions:
- Age-related decline in associative memory is linked to altered neural mechanisms.
- Impaired neural modulation of the E/R flip in the right anterior insula may serve as an early marker for neural aging.
- These findings contribute to understanding cognitive aging and potential biomarkers for early detection.
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