Load-dependent modulation of alpha oscillations during working memory encoding and retention in young and older adults
Autor: | Ashley Merkin, Sabrina Sghirripa, John G. Semmler, Lynton Graetz, Nigel C. Rogasch, Mitchell R. Goldsworthy |
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Rok vydání: | 2019 |
Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
medicine.diagnostic_test Working memory business.industry 05 social sciences Alpha (ethology) Audiology Electroencephalography 050105 experimental psychology 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Age groups Younger adults Fixation (visual) medicine 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences business Alpha power 030217 neurology & neurosurgery |
Popis: | Working memory (WM) is vulnerable to age-related decline, particularly under high loads. Visual alpha oscillations contribute to WM performance in younger adults, and although alpha decreases in power and frequency with age, it is unclear if alpha activity supports WM in older adults. We recorded electroencephalography (EEG) while 24 younger (aged 18-35 years) and 30 older (aged 50-86) adults performed a modified Sternberg task with varying load conditions. Older adults demonstrated slower reaction times at all loads, but there were no significant age differences in accuracy. Regardless of age, alpha power decreased, and alpha frequency increased with load during encoding, and the magnitude of alpha suppression during retention was larger at higher loads. While alpha power during retention was lower than fixation in older, but not younger adults, the relative change from fixation was not significantly different between age groups. Individual differences in alpha power did not predict performance for either age groups or at any WM loads. Future research should elaborate the functional significance of alpha power and frequency changes that accompany WM performance in cognitive ageing. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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