Decreased activation of anterior cingulate cortex in the working memory of the elderly.
We examined aging effects on activation in the anterior cingulate cortex during a verbal working memory using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Ten young (mean age 25 years) and 10 elderly (mean age 69 years) healthy adults performed the reading span test in which performance reflects individual differences in verbal working memory. We found an age-related difference in executive function in the prefrontal cortex; younger participants showed significant anterior cingulate cortex activation whereas the elderly did not. We found that the anterior cingulate cortex plays a critical role in executive function related to working memory. We found that behavioral deficits in verbal working memory because of aging result from the deterioration of cognitive control owing to decreased activation of the anterior cingulate cortex.
Otsuka
Yuki
Y
Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. yotsuka@bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Osaka
Naoyuki
N
Morishita
Masanao
M
Kondo
Hirohito
H
Osaka
Mariko
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology
D010100:Oxygen