Age- and performance related modulations in spectral event-related dynamics during a working memory task

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Age- and performance related modulations in spectral event-related dynamics during a working memory task Thomas Fischer1*, Alexander Strobel1 and Sergei Schapkin2 1 Technical University of Dresden, Germany 2 Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Germany Age-dependent changes in event-related spectral perturbations (ERSP) and decrements in performance have previously been reported for several cognitive paradigms. However, the relationship between ERSP modulations, performance and age has not been well documented until now. Using a 2-back working memory task, we compared ERSPs between 44 healthy younger subjects (aged 29±3 years) and 44 older subjects (aged 55±3 years). Based on the d’ scores in the 2-back condition participants of each age group were divided into high and low performers. For event-related beta synchronization (ERS; 800-1000 ms after target), the ANOVA showed significant main effects for the factor age and the factor performance in the left frontal cluster (F3, FC3). The beta ERS was significantly larger in the high-performer group (the younger and older subjects taken together) than in the low-performer group as well as larger in younger than in older adults. No interaction effects were obtained. Additionally, age differences in the alpha event-related desynchronisation (ERD; 600-800 ms after target) in the parietal cluster (P3; Pz, P4) were found: the alpha ERD increased in younger adults as compared to older adults. Moreover, alpha ERS was larger in low performers than in high performers.Our results show that working memory processes are associated with left frontal event-related beta-synchronization and suggest that frontal beta synchronization could be an informative indicator for age-related changes in neuronal processes underlying working memory. Keywords: Aging, ERSP Conference: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster Sessions: Cognitive Aging Citation: Fischer T, Strobel A and Schapkin S (2011). Age- and performance related modulations in spectral event-related dynamics during a working memory task. Conference Abstract: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00547 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Nov 2011; Published Online: 28 Nov 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. Thomas Fischer, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany, fischer.tho@googlemail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Thomas Fischer Alexander Strobel Sergei Schapkin Google Thomas Fischer Alexander Strobel Sergei Schapkin Google Scholar Thomas Fischer Alexander Strobel Sergei Schapkin PubMed Thomas Fischer Alexander Strobel Sergei Schapkin Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.