Neural changes associated with semantic processing in healthy aging despite intact behavioral performance.
Semantic memory recruits an extensive neural network including the left inferior prefrontal cortex (IPC) and the left temporoparietal region, which are involved in semantic control processes, as well as the anterior temporal lobe region (ATL) which is considered to be involved in processing semantic information at a central level. However, little is known about the underlying neuronal integrity of the semantic network in normal aging. Young and older healthy adults carried out a semantic judgment task while their cortical activity was recorded using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Despite equivalent behavioral performance, young adults activated the left IPC to a greater extent than older adults, while the latter group recruited the temporoparietal region bilaterally and the left ATL to a greater extent than younger adults. Results indicate that significant neuronal changes occur in normal aging, mainly in regions underlying semantic control processes, despite an apparent stability in performance at the behavioral level.
Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; CERNEC, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, Département de psychologie, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4565 Chemin Queen-Mary, Montréal, Québec H3W 1W5, Canada. Electronic address: jacinthe.lacombe@umontreal.ca.
Jacinthe
J
Lacombe
Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; CERNEC, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, Département de psychologie, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4565 Chemin Queen-Mary, Montréal, Québec H3W 1W5, Canada; International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Pavillon 1420 Mont-Royal, FAS - Département de psychologie, C.P. 6128, succ Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
Pierre
P
Jolicoeur
Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; CERNEC, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, Département de psychologie, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), 3 rue Michel-Ange 75794, Paris cedex 16, France.
Stephan
S
Grimault
Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; CERNEC, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, Département de psychologie, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4565 Chemin Queen-Mary, Montréal, Québec H3W 1W5, Canada.
Jessica
J
Pineault
Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4565 Chemin Queen-Mary, Montréal, Québec H3W 1W5, Canada. Electronic address: sven.joubert@umontreal.ca.
Sven
S
Joubert
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D012660:Semantics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Elderly; Language; MEG; Neural reorganization; Normal aging; Semantic executive processes; Semantic memory