Humor processing, mentalizing, and executive function in normal aging.
Recent investigations have emphasized the importance of the prefrontal cortex for humor processing. Although the prefrontal cortex is thought to be affected by normal aging, relatively little work has been carried out to investigate the effects of aging on humor processing. In the present investigation participants in three age groups were assessed on a humor comprehension task. They then answered mentalistic and nonmentalistic questions. Executive tasks were also administered. The older group selected significantly fewer correct punchlines from alternatives than the other groups. They were also poorer at answering mentalistic questions, but did not differ significantly for nonmentalistic questions. The findings of the present investigation showed altered in humor processing in normal aging, and this appeared to be related to mentalizing ability.
Department of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, GAFO 05/607, Ruhr-University of Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany. Jennifer.Uekermann@ruhr-uni.bochum.de
Jennifer
J
Uekermann
Shelley
S
Channon
Irene
I
Daum
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics; D012938:Social Perception; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic