title: Age differences in task switching and response monitoring: evidence from ERPs.
abstract: This study investigates age differences in the flexible adaptation to changing demands on task switching and conflict processing. We applied a cued task-switching version of the Stroop task and manipulated the ratio of conflict trials. During task preparation, the P300 varied as a function of conflict ratio and a later positive component was larger for switch than non-switch trials. Stimulus-related conflict processing as indicated by a negativity for incompatible trials (Ni) was delayed for older adults. Moreover, the Ni varied as a function of conflict ratio and was larger for switch than for non-switch trials. Age differences were also obtained in the correct response negativity (CRN). CRN was larger on incompatible trials and this CRN-compatibility effect was enhanced when incompatible trials were infrequent in younger, but not in older adults. Our findings suggest impairments of older adults primarily in response-related conflict processing and in the flexible adaptation to changing task contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Im Stadtwald, D-66041 Saarbrücken, Germany. eppinger@mx.uni-saarland.de
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eppinger
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kray
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mecklinger
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: John
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000502:physiology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D012660:Semantics