title: Neural correlates associated with successful working memory performance in older adults as revealed by spatial ICA.
abstract: To investigate which neural correlates are associated with successful working memory performance, fMRI was recorded in healthy younger and older adults during performance on an n-back task with varying task demands. To identify functional networks supporting working memory processes, we used independent component analysis (ICA) decomposition of the fMRI data. Compared to younger adults, older adults showed a larger neural (BOLD) response in the more complex (2-back) than in the baseline (0-back) task condition, in the ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and in the right fronto-parietal network (FPN). Our results indicated that a higher BOLD response in the VLPFC was associated with increased performance accuracy in older adults, in the more complex task condition. This 'BOLD-performance' relationship suggests that the neural correlates linked with successful performance in the older adults are related to specific working memory processes present in the complex but not in the baseline task condition [corrected].Furthermore, the selective presence of this relationship in older but not in younger adults suggests that increased neural activity in the VLPFC serves a compensatory role in the aging brain which benefits task performance in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; BCN-NeuroImaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saliasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; BCN-NeuroImaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geerligs
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; BCN-NeuroImaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monicque M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lorist
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; BCN-NeuroImaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Natasha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maurits
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult