Neural patterns underlying the effect of negative distractors on working memory in older adults

Abstract Working memory (WM) declines with age. Older adults, however, perform similar to younger adults in WM tasks with negative distractors at low WM load. To clarify the neural basis of this phenomenon, older (n=28) and younger (n=24) adults performed an emotional n-back task during an fMRI scan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurobiology of aging 2017-05, Vol.53 (53), p.93-102
Main Authors: Oren, Noga, Ash, Elissa L, Tarrasch, Ricardo, Hendler, Talma, Giladi, Nir, Shapira-Lichter, Irit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aging
Aging - psychology
Amygdala - diagnostic imaging
Amygdala - physiology
Amygdala - physiopathology
Distractibility
Emotion
Emotions - physiology
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory, Short-Term - physiology
Neurology
Neuropsychological Tests
Parietal Lobe - diagnostic imaging
Parietal Lobe - physiology
Parietal Lobe - physiopathology
Prefrontal Cortex - diagnostic imaging
Prefrontal Cortex - physiology
Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology
Reaction Time
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Working memory (WM) declines with age. Older adults, however, perform similar to younger adults in WM tasks with negative distractors at low WM load. To clarify the neural basis of this phenomenon, older (n=28) and younger (n=24) adults performed an emotional n-back task during an fMRI scan, and activity in task-related regions was examined. Comparing negative to neutral distraction at low WM load, older adults demonstrated shorter reaction times (RT) and reduced activation in fronto-parietal regions: bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and left parietal cortex. They also had greater coherence within the fronto-parietal network, as well as greater deactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. These patterns probably contributed to the older adults' diminished distractibility by negative task-irrelevant stimuli. Since recruitment of control mechanisms was less required, the fronto-parietal network was less activated and performance was improved. Faster RT during the negative condition was related to lesser activation of the MFG in both age groups, corroborating the functional significance of this region to WM across the lifespan.
ISSN:0197-4580
1558-1497
DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.01.020