Reliable differences in brain activity between young and old adults: a quantitative meta-analysis across multiple cognitive domains.
We conducted a systematic review of the neuroimaging literature examining cognition in old and young adults and quantified these findings in a series of meta-analyses using the activation likelihood estimation technique. In 80 independent samples, we assessed significant convergent and divergent patterns of brain activity across all studies; where task performance was equated or different between age groups; and in four specific cognitive domains (perception, memory encoding, memory retrieval and executive function). Age differences across studies predominantly involved regions within the 'task-positive network' of the brain, a set of interconnected regions engaged during a variety of externally driven cognitive tasks. Old adults engaged prefrontal regions more than young adults. When performance was equivalent, old adults engaged left prefrontal cortex; poorly performing old adults engaged right prefrontal cortex. Young adults engaged occipital regions more than old adults, particularly when performance was unequal and during perceptual tasks. No age-related differences were found in the parietal lobes. We discuss the reliable differences in brain activation with regards to current theories of neurocognitive aging.
Spreng
R Nathan
RN
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. nathan.spreng@gmail.com
Wojtowicz
Magdalena
M
Grady
Cheryl L
CL
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology