Diminished Alpha Lateralization During Working Memory but Not During Attentional Cueing in Older Adults.

摘要: Aging has been associated with declined performance in tasks that rely on working memory (WM). Because attention and WM are tightly coupled, a task older adults could be due to deficits attention, capacity, or both. We used alpha (8-14 Hz) power modulations as an index assess how changes capacity contribute decreased adults. recorded the magnetoencephalogram healthy (60-76 years) younger (18-28 while they performed lateralized task. At matched difficulty, showed significantly lower spans than Alpha lateralization during retention was nearly absent bilateral reduction of power. By contrast, reduced only contralateral attended hemifield. Surprisingly, cue interval, both groups equal lateralization. The preserved attentional cueing, lack thereof retention, suggests is WM-related processes, not orienting, compensatory mechanism aging permits significant residual absence