Reduced interhemispheric transfer in older adults: Evidence from a divided visual field one-back task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• The ageing brain experiences structural changes, notably in the corpus callosum, a key pathway for interhemispheric communication.
• Age-related degeneration, particularly in the anterior corpus callosum, raises questions about functional impacts on cognitive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential compromises in the interhemispheric transfer of visual working memory (VWM) in older adults.
• To explore the functional consequences of age-related structural brain changes on cognitive function.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments utilized modified one-back paradigms with young (18-28 years) and older (65-85 years) adults.
• Participants viewed sequentially presented stimuli in either hemifield and identified matches, with stimuli sometimes in opposite hemifields.

Main Results:

• Older adults made significantly more matching errors when stimuli appeared in opposite hemifields compared to the same hemifield.
• This contrasts with younger adults, indicating a specific deficit in interhemispheric VWM transfer.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a reduced interhemispheric transfer of visual working memory in older adults.
• This deficit may be linked to age-related atrophy in the anterior corpus callosum, impacting brain connectivity.