The influence of working memory and other cognitive functions on task switching: Evidence from healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event The influence of working memory and other cognitive functions on task switching: Evidence from healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment Natalie Phillips1, 2, 3*, P. Goffaux4 and M. Sinai1, 2 1 Concordia University, Department of Psychology, Canada 2 Concordia University, Centre for Research in Human Development, Canada 3 Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research/Jewish General Hospital, Canada 4 University of Sherbrooke, Canada Efficient switching between tasks requires that attentional, preparatory, and working memory resources be mobilized. Because these processes represent components of executive control, it is not surprising to find age differences in task-switching. In this talk I will present behavioural and event-related brain potential (ERP) data on task switching performance in young adults, healthy older adults, and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; a group at high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease). In one study (Goffaux, Phillips, et al., in press), we demonstrate that individual differences in working memory are an important determinant of the performance of older adults during task switching. Specifically, older adults with high working memory performed similarly to younger adults, although their pattern of electrical brain activity differed. Older adults with low working memory performed more poorly and exhibited yet another pattern of electrical brain activity. In a second study (Sinai & Phillips, in preparation), we investigated task switching performance in MCI patients and healthy elderly controls. Despite the mild difficulties these patients show on a battery of neuropsychological tests, a significant number showed marked impairment on a set switching task and were unable to complete it without external support. However, other patients were able to perform the task and did not differ from their controls in terms of reaction time, accuracy, or ERPs. Taken together, these data indicate that task switching performance is sensitive to age and neurological status and appears dependent on other important cognitive abilities. Conference: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Bodrum, Turkey, 1 Sep - 5 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Symposium 2: Cognitive control processes Citation: Phillips N, Goffaux P and Sinai M (2008). The influence of working memory and other cognitive functions on task switching: Evidence from healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment. Conference Abstract: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.01.016 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: 26 Nov 2008; Published Online: 26 Nov 2008. * Correspondence: Natalie Phillips, Concordia University, Department of Psychology, Montréal, Canada, Natalie.Phillips@concordia.ca 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 Natalie Phillips P. Goffaux M. Sinai Google Natalie Phillips P. Goffaux M. Sinai Google Scholar Natalie Phillips P. Goffaux M. Sinai PubMed Natalie Phillips P. Goffaux M. Sinai 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.