title: Neuromodulation and aging: implications of aging neuronal gain control on cognition.
abstract: The efficacy of various transmitter systems declines with advancing age. Of particular interest, various pre-synaptic and post-synaptic components of the dopaminergic system change across the human lifespan; impairments in these components play important roles in cognitive deficits commonly observed in the elderly. Here, we review evidence from recent multimodal neuroimaging, pharmacological and genetic studies that have provided new insights for the associations among dopamine functions, aging, functional brain activations and behavioral performance across key cognitive functions, ranging from working memory and episodic memory to goal-directed learning and decision making. Specifically, we discuss these empirical findings in the context of an established neurocomputational theory of aging neuronal gain control. We also highlight gaps in the current understanding of dopamine neuromodulation and aging brain functions and suggest avenues for future research.
authors: Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden Zellescher Weg 17, Dresden D-01062, Germany; Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, Berlin D-14195, Germany. Electronic address: shu-chen.li@tu-dresden.de.
authors: Shu-Chen
authors: SC
authors: Li
authors: Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology, Umeå University, Umea 901 87, Sweden.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Rieckmann
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents