title: Age effects on EEG correlates of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
abstract: Body and brain undergo several changes with aging. One of the domains in which these changes are more remarkable relates with cognitive performance. In the present work, electroencephalogram (EEG) markers (power spectral density and spectral coherence) of age-related cognitive decline were sought whilst the subjects performed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Considering the expected age-related cognitive deficits, WCST was applied to young, mid-age and elderly participants, and the theta and alpha frequency bands were analyzed. From the results herein presented, higher theta and alpha power were found to be associated with a good performance in the WCST of younger subjects. Additionally, higher theta and alpha coherence were also associated with good performance and were shown to decline with age and a decrease in alpha peak frequency seems to be associated with aging. Additionally, inter-hemispheric long-range coherences and parietal theta power were identified as age-independent EEG correlates of cognitive performance. In summary, these data reveals age-dependent as well as age-independent EEG correlates of cognitive performance that contribute to the understanding of brain aging and related cognitive deficits.
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal Clinical Academic Center-Braga, Braga, Portugal DIGARC Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal nunodias@ecsaude.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Nuno S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Jacinto
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Electronics, School of Engineering University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal Clinical Academic Center-Braga, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nadine C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal Clinical Academic Center-Braga, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: João J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS) School of Health Sciences University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal Clinical Academic Center-Braga, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa
keywords: Aging; EEG rhythms; cognition