title: Differences in EEG power in young and mature healthy adults during an incidental/spatial learning task are related to age and execution efficiency.
abstract: The differential characteristics of absolute power in the EEG theta (4-8 Hz) and gamma (30-45 Hz) frequency bands have been analysed in young (18-25 years old, n = 14) and mature adults (45-65 years old, n = 12) during the incidental or intentional behavioural conditions of learning and recalling in a visuospatial task. A printed drawing of a maze including eight figures of common objects in specific placements, solved by connecting its entrance and exit points, allowed the subject's performance efficiency to be measured based on the number, position accuracy and/or identity of incidentally or intentionally learned and remembered objects. Meanwhile, EEG recordings from frontal, parietal and temporal derivations were obtained to determine the power values of the theta (4-8 Hz) and gamma (30-45 Hz) bands for each behavioural condition and derivation. Relative to the young adults, the mature adults generally showed lower absolute theta power values, mainly due to their low theta powers under the basal and incidental learning conditions, and higher absolute gamma power values in the frontal and temporal regions. Furthermore, higher theta band power in the frontal regions was related to higher performance efficiency in both incidental and intentional learning, regardless of the subjects' age. A significant negative correlation between the parameters of individual incidental or intentional learning performance and age was also found. Indeed, a differential accuracy of remembered information seems to be associated with age and incidental or intentional learning/memory testing conditions. These data support an increasing vulnerability of visuospatial learning abilities at mature ages and as ageing progresses.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofísica, Instituto de Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio C3, Ciudad Universitaria, Francisco J. Múgica s/n, Col. Felicitas del Río, 58040, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Loeza
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofísica, Instituto de Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio C3, Ciudad Universitaria, Francisco J. Múgica s/n, Col. Felicitas del Río, 58040, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Ana Rosa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rangel-Argueta
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofísica, Instituto de Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio C3, Ciudad Universitaria, Francisco J. Múgica s/n, Col. Felicitas del Río, 58040, Morelia, Michoacán, México.|Laboratorio de Neuroplasticidad de los procesos cognoscitivos, División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Michoacán, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Camino de la Arboleda 300, Exhacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58341, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: López-Vázquez
authors.affiliation: División de Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y Biológicas "Dr. Ignacio Chávez", Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Rafael Carrillo esquina con Salvador González Herrejón s/n, Col. Centro, 58000, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Experimental, División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Michoacán, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Camino de la Arboleda 300, Ex hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58341, Morelia, Michoacán, México. maesolco@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: María Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Olvera-Cortés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Incidental learning; Intentional learning; Spatial learning; Theta activity