Brain mechanisms underlying the effects of aging on different aspects of selective attention.
The ability to suppress irrelevant information declines with age, while the ability to enhance relevant information remains largely intact. We examined mechanisms behind this dissociation in an fMRI study, using a selective attention task in which relevant and irrelevant information appeared simultaneously. Slowing of response times due to distraction by irrelevant targets was larger in older than younger participants. Increased distraction was related to larger increases in activity and connectivity in areas of the dorsal attention network, indicating a more pronounced (re-)orientation of attention. The decreases in accuracy in target compared to nontarget trials were smaller in older compared to younger participants. In older adults we found increased recruitment of areas in the fronto-parietal control network (FPCN) during target detection. Moreover, older adults showed increased connectivity between the FPCN, supporting cognitive control, and somatomotor areas implicated in response selection and execution. This connectivity increase was related to improved target detection, suggesting that older adults engage additional cognitive control, which might enable the observed intact performance in detecting and responding to target stimuli.
Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands; Neuroimaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: lindageerligs@gmail.com.
Linda
L
Geerligs
Neuroimaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.saliasi@umcg.nl.
Emi
E
Saliasi
Neuroimaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.m.maurits@umcg.nl.
Natasha M
NM
Maurits
Neuroimaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.j.renken@umcg.nl.
Remco J
RJ
Renken
Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands; Neuroimaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.m.lorist@rug.nl.
Monicque M
MM
Lorist
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen
Aging; Enhancement; Functional connectivity; Selective attention; Suppression; fMRI