Plasticity of the Right-Lateralized Cognitive Reserve Network in Ageing
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Plasticity of the Right-Lateralized Cognitive Reserve Network in Ageing. / Brosnan, Méadhbh B.; Demaria, Giorgia; Petersen, Anders; Dockree, Paul M.; Robertson, Ian H.; Wiegand, Iris.
I: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), Bind 28, Nr. 5, 01.05.2018, s. 1749-1759.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Plasticity of the Right-Lateralized Cognitive Reserve Network in Ageing
AU - Brosnan, Méadhbh B.
AU - Demaria, Giorgia
AU - Petersen, Anders
AU - Dockree, Paul M.
AU - Robertson, Ian H.
AU - Wiegand, Iris
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - Cognitive reserve (CR) is the phenomenon where older adults with more cognitively stimulating environments show less age-related cognitive decline. The right-lateralized fronto-parietal network has been proposed to significantly contribute to CR and visual attention in ageing. In this study we tested whether plasticity of this network may be harnessed in ageing.We assessed CR and parameters of visual attention capacity in older adults. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was employed to increase right fronto-parietal activity during a lateralized whole-report task. At baseline, older adults with greater CR showed a stronger hemifield asymmetry in processing speed towards the left visual-field, indicative of stronger involvement of the right hemisphere in these individuals. Correspondingly, processing speed improved during right prefrontal tDCS. Older adults with lower levels of CR showed tDCS-related improvements in processing speed in the left but not right hemifield: thus tDCS temporarily altered their processing speed asymmetry to resemble that of their high reserve peers.The finding that stronger right hemisphere involvement is related to CR supports Robertson's theory. Furthermore, preserved plasticity within the right prefrontal cortex in older adults suggests this is a viable target area to improve visual processing speed, a hallmark of age-related decline.
AB - Cognitive reserve (CR) is the phenomenon where older adults with more cognitively stimulating environments show less age-related cognitive decline. The right-lateralized fronto-parietal network has been proposed to significantly contribute to CR and visual attention in ageing. In this study we tested whether plasticity of this network may be harnessed in ageing.We assessed CR and parameters of visual attention capacity in older adults. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was employed to increase right fronto-parietal activity during a lateralized whole-report task. At baseline, older adults with greater CR showed a stronger hemifield asymmetry in processing speed towards the left visual-field, indicative of stronger involvement of the right hemisphere in these individuals. Correspondingly, processing speed improved during right prefrontal tDCS. Older adults with lower levels of CR showed tDCS-related improvements in processing speed in the left but not right hemifield: thus tDCS temporarily altered their processing speed asymmetry to resemble that of their high reserve peers.The finding that stronger right hemisphere involvement is related to CR supports Robertson's theory. Furthermore, preserved plasticity within the right prefrontal cortex in older adults suggests this is a viable target area to improve visual processing speed, a hallmark of age-related decline.
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - ageing
KW - cognitive reserve
KW - plasticity
KW - transcranial direct current stimulation
KW - visual attention
U2 - 10.1093/cercor/bhx085
DO - 10.1093/cercor/bhx085
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28444373
AN - SCOPUS:85049676104
VL - 28
SP - 1749
EP - 1759
JO - Cerebral Cortex
JF - Cerebral Cortex
SN - 1047-3211
IS - 5
ER -
ID: 233785137