Abstract
Current neuropsychological models propose that some age-related cognitive changes are due to frontal-lobe deterioration. However, these models have not considered the possible subdivision of the frontal lobes into the dorsolateral and ventromedial regions. This study assessed the age effects on 3 tasks of executive function and working memory, tasks dependent on dorsolateral prefrontal dysfunction; and 3 tasks of emotion and social decision making, tasks dependent on ventromedial prefrontal dysfunction. Age-related differences in performance were found on all tasks dependent on dorsolateral prefrontal dysfunction. In contrast, age-related differences were not found on the majority of the tasks dependent on ventromedial prefrontal dysfunction. The results support a specific dorsolateral prefrontal theory of cognitive changes with age, rather than a global decline in frontal-lobe function.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 598-609 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Psychology and Aging |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2002 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- CARD SORTING TEST
- FRONTAL-LOBE DAMAGE
- CEREBRAL-BLOOD-FLOW
- POSITRON-EMISSION-TOMOGRAPHY
- ORDERED POINTING TASK
- WORKING-MEMORY
- DELAYED-RESPONSE
- ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX
- FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
- TEST-PERFORMANCE