Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning
The ability to update associative memory is an important aspect of episodic memory and a critical skill for social adaptation. Previous research with younger adults suggests that emotional arousal alters brain mechanisms underlying memory updating; however, it is unclear whether this applies to old...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnint.2013.00037/full |
| _version_ | 1828486809397493760 |
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| author | Kaoru eNashiro Michiko eSakaki Lin eNga Mara eMather |
| author_facet | Kaoru eNashiro Michiko eSakaki Lin eNga Mara eMather |
| author_sort | Kaoru eNashiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ability to update associative memory is an important aspect of episodic memory and a critical skill for social adaptation. Previous research with younger adults suggests that emotional arousal alters brain mechanisms underlying memory updating; however, it is unclear whether this applies to older adults. Given that the ability to update associative information declines with age, it is important to understand how emotion modulates the brain processes underlying memory updating in older adults. The current study investigated this question using reversal learning tasks, where younger and older participants (age ranges 19-35 and 61-78 respectively) learn a stimulus–outcome association and then update their response when contingencies change. We found that younger and older adults showed similar patterns of activation in the frontopolar OFC and the amygdala during emotional reversal learning. In contrast, when reversal learning did not involve emotion, older adults showed greater parietal cortex activity than did younger adults. Thus, younger and older adults show more similarities in brain activity during memory updating involving emotional stimuli than during memory updating not involving emotional stimuli. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:39:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3dbac30b2fe247bea946fef35f61d17d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5145 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:39:42Z |
| publishDate | 2013-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-3dbac30b2fe247bea946fef35f61d17d2022-12-22T01:12:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience1662-51452013-05-01710.3389/fnint.2013.0003745744Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learningKaoru eNashiro0Michiko eSakaki1Lin eNga2Mara eMather3Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at DallasUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe ability to update associative memory is an important aspect of episodic memory and a critical skill for social adaptation. Previous research with younger adults suggests that emotional arousal alters brain mechanisms underlying memory updating; however, it is unclear whether this applies to older adults. Given that the ability to update associative information declines with age, it is important to understand how emotion modulates the brain processes underlying memory updating in older adults. The current study investigated this question using reversal learning tasks, where younger and older participants (age ranges 19-35 and 61-78 respectively) learn a stimulus–outcome association and then update their response when contingencies change. We found that younger and older adults showed similar patterns of activation in the frontopolar OFC and the amygdala during emotional reversal learning. In contrast, when reversal learning did not involve emotion, older adults showed greater parietal cortex activity than did younger adults. Thus, younger and older adults show more similarities in brain activity during memory updating involving emotional stimuli than during memory updating not involving emotional stimuli.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnint.2013.00037/fullAgingAmygdalaReversal Learningorbitofrontal cortexAssociative Memoryfrontopolar cortex |
| spellingShingle | Kaoru eNashiro Michiko eSakaki Lin eNga Mara eMather Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience Aging Amygdala Reversal Learning orbitofrontal cortex Associative Memory frontopolar cortex |
| title | Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning |
| title_full | Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning |
| title_fullStr | Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning |
| title_short | Age-related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning |
| title_sort | age related similarities and differences in brain activity underlying reversal learning |
| topic | Aging Amygdala Reversal Learning orbitofrontal cortex Associative Memory frontopolar cortex |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnint.2013.00037/full |
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