Does dual-task challenge affect prefrontal cortex activation differently in younger versus older adults?
High cognitive load from dual-task activity increases prefrontal cortex activity in older adults, particularly those with better baseline attention and executive functions.
Older adults demonstrated age-specific PFC activation in response to dual-task challenge. There was also a significant negative correlation between PFC activation during dual-task and executive/attentional function. These findings suggest that the high cognitive load induced by dual-task activity generates increased PFC activity in older adults. However, this relationship appeared to be strongest in participants with better baseline attention and executive functions.
Ohsugi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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