Older age was associated with a slower activation pattern in oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex during the Wisconsin card sorting test compared to young adults.
Cross-Sectional (n=38)
Does age affect prefrontal hemodynamic responses during the Wisconsin card sorting test?
Age-related decline in prefrontal hemodynamic responses may contribute to poorer cognitive task performance.
The present study investigated age-related changes in the time-varying hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). NIRS is a real-time spectroscopic method used to measure functional hemodynamic responses related to neural activation in the brain. The prefrontal hemodynamic responses of 17 young adults and 21 elderly adults were monitored while they completed the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). The results revealed a slower activation pattern in oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the elderly group than in the young group. Furthermore, quantified results revealed time-varying trends in hemodynamic responses. The findings imply that age-related decline in hemodynamic responses may contribute to poorer performance during cognitive tasks.
Huang et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Age-related cognitive and hemodynamic changes (n=38). Older age vs. Young adults was evaluated on Time-varying hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (oxyhemoglobin concentrations). Older age was associated with a slower activation pattern in oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex during the Wisconsin card sorting test compared to young adults.