Abstract
In oddball tasks, the P3 component of the event-related potential systematically varies with the time between target stimuli—the target-to-target interval (TTI). Longer TTIs result in larger P3 amplitudes and shorter latencies, and this pattern of results has been linked with working memory-updating processes. Given that working memory and the P3 have both been shown to diminish with age, the current study aimed to determine whether the linear relationship between P3 and TTI is compromised in healthy aging by comparing TTI effects on P3 amplitudes and latencies, and reaction time (RT), in young and older adults. Older adults were found to have an overall reduction in P3 amplitudes, longer latencies, an anterior shift in topography, a trend toward slower RTs, and a flatter linear relationship between P3 and TTI than young adults. Results suggest that the ability to maintain templates in working memory required for stimulus categorization decreases with age, and that as a result, neural compensatory mechanisms are employed.
Highlights
Working memory, the ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind, decreases across the lifespan (Hedden and Gabrieli, 2004), after 70 years of age (Hester et al, 2004)
These findings suggest that older adults have weaker electrophysiological memory-updating processes than young adults, as interpreted by the template-update model
This study examined target interval (TTI) effects on the P3 in young and older adults
Summary
The ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind, decreases across the lifespan (Hedden and Gabrieli, 2004), after 70 years of age (Hester et al, 2004) This age-related cognitive decline can result in a loss of confidence, independence, and reduced quality of life. Previous work has shown that by extending the time between target stimuli (the target-to-target interval [TTI]), the P3 increases in amplitude and decreases in latency (Gonsalvez et al, 1999, 2007; Gonsalvez and Polich, 2002; Croft et al, 2003; Steiner et al, 2013a,b; Steiner et al, 2014a,b) This “TTI effect” on the P3 has been directly linked
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