Gamma oscillatory activity in relation to memory ability in older adults.
Human gamma-band activity (GBA) is widely reported to reflect memory processing. Recent studies suggest that GBA is associated with behavioral performance in memory tasks, but it is not clear whether gamma oscillations are related to individual differences in memory ability. To examine this issue, we recruited participants with low memory ability (mild cognitive impairment, or MCI; n=16) as well as age-, education-, and sex-matched controls (n=19) for a study involving a spatial delayed match to sample (DMTS) task. We recorded EEG during task performance and analyzed gamma oscillation changes during the memory maintenance phase of the task. Gamma event-related desynchronization was stronger in the control group than in the MCI group in the mid-frontal area, and mean GBA in this area correlated with clinical memory measures as well as behavioral performance on the DMTS task. These findings suggest that gamma oscillations not only reflect brain activity related to memory processes, but also vary with the memory ability of individuals.
Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jin Young
JY
Park
Kang Soo
KS
Lee
Suk Kyoon
SK
An
Jaewon
J
Lee
Jae-Jin
JJ
Kim
Kyung Hee
KH
Kim
Kee
K
Namkoong
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*