Age-related similarities and differences in cognitive and neural processing revealed by task-related microstate analysis

We explored neural processing differences associated with aging across four cognitive functions. In addition to ERP analysis, we included task-related microstate analyses, which identified stable states of neural activity across the scalp over time, to explore whole-head neural activation difference...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inNeurobiology of aging Vol. 136; pp. 9 - 22
Main Authors Denaro, Chandlyr M., Reed, Catherine L., Joshi, Jasmin, Petropoulos, Astrid, Thapar, Anjali, Hartley, Alan A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2024
Subjects
Aged
Aging
Aging - physiology
Cognition - physiology
Electroencephalography
ERN
ERPs
Evoked Potentials - physiology
Female
Humans
Judgment
Male
Microstates
N170
N400
STAC-r
ERPs
ERN
Microstates
N400
P3
Aging
STAC-r
N170
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:We explored neural processing differences associated with aging across four cognitive functions. In addition to ERP analysis, we included task-related microstate analyses, which identified stable states of neural activity across the scalp over time, to explore whole-head neural activation differences. Younger and older adults (YA, OA) completed face perception (N170), word-pair judgment (N400), visual oddball (P3), and flanker (ERN) tasks. Age-related effects differed across tasks. Despite age-related delayed latencies, N170 ERP and microstate analyses indicated no age-related differences in amplitudes or microstates. However, age-related condition differences were found for P3 and N00 amplitudes and scalp topographies: smaller condition differences were found for in OAs as well as broader centroparietal scalp distributions. Age group comparisons for the ERN revealed similar focal frontocentral activation loci, but differential activation patterns. Our findings of differential age effects across tasks are most consistent with the STAC-r framework which proposes that age-related effects differ depending on the resources available and the kinds of processing and cognitive load required of various tasks. •ERP and microstate analyses showed that age effects differed across four tasks.•Microstates with ERPs help distinguish among current theories of neural aging.•Spatial distributions of neural processing phases differ by age across time and task.•Different age-related effects across tasks were most consistent with STAC-r.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0197-4580
1558-1497
DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.01.007