Brain Network Analysis Reveals Age-Related Differences in Topological Reorganization During Vigilance Decline

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Aging
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Reduced alertness due to mental fatigue poses economic and safety risks, particularly with an aging workforce.
• While cognitive aging is studied, brain network changes during vigilance decline in the elderly remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related differences in brain network topology during experimentally induced mental fatigue.
• To explore the neural mechanisms underlying vigilance decline in healthy elderly versus young individuals.

Main Methods:

• A 30-minute psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) was used to induce mental fatigue in elderly (n=30) and young (n=40) participants.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected to construct functional connectivity and evaluate network topological properties (global and nodal metrics).

Main Results:

• Both age groups showed performance decline during the PVT.
• The elderly group exhibited age-related dysconnectivity across a wide frequency range (1-45 Hz), leading to less optimal network architecture.
• Significant deficits in nodal efficiency were observed in most brain regions, with notable age-by-time interaction effects in the frontal area.

Conclusions:

• This study provides quantitative insights into the neural mechanisms of age differences in mental fatigue.
• Findings highlight age-related alterations in brain network topology during vigilance decline, relevant for optimizing personnel in high-alertness environments.