Ch. 2 Neuroscience as a Basis of Adult Development and Aging Flashcards
What is neuroimaging?
It is a set of techniques that takes various pictures of the brain to help us better understand normal and abnormal cognitive aging.
What are the two types of neuroimaging techniques?
Structural and functional neuroimaging
What is the difference between functional and structural neuroimaging?
Structural imaging allows us to see the physical strucutre of the brain while functional imaging allwos us to see brain activity during specific tasks.
What is the neuropsychological approach?
The neuropsychological approach is when researchers compare the brain functioning of healthy adults to those with pathological disorders.
What is the neurocorrelational approach?
The neurocorrelational approach is when researchers compare cognitive performance to measures of brain structure or functioning.
What is the active imaging approach?
The active imaging approach is when researchers attempt to link functional brain activity with cognitive behavioral data.
What functions are the frontal and prefrontal cortex responsible for?
Higher-order executive functions (ex. making/carrying out plans, switching between tasks, and maintaining focus).
What functions are the cerebellum responsible for?
Controlling balance and coordination of fine motor movements.
What function is the hippocampus responsible for?
Memory
What is the limbic system?
Set of brain structures involved with emotion, motivation, and long-term memory.
What are three age-related changes that occur in neurons?
- Number of neurons decline
- Size and number of dendrites decreases
- Increase in deposit of certain proteins
What two age-related changes occur in brain structures?
- Antropy (shrinking) of certain brain regions like the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum.
- White matter deteriorates
What is the Theory of Mind?
The ability that helps us understand that other people have different beliefs, opinions, feelings, ideas, etc. than our own.
What does poor performance on executive functioning indicate?
Decreased volume of prefrontal cortex and degeneration of connections among various regions.
Is the increase or reduction of the hippocampus related to memory decline?
Reduction
True or False: Changes in brain activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are related to an increase in processing negative emotional info. and a decrease in processing positive emotional info.
False. Changes in brain activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are related to a DECREASE in processing negative info. and an INCREASE in processing positive info. This shows that older adults have increased emotional regulation.
What is one explanation for why pathways of emotion don’t deteriorate while pathways of memory do?
Older adults are more motivated to derive emotional meaning from life and maintain positive feelings (positivity effect).
What is the Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory?
A theory that proposes that intelligence comes from an integrated network of neurons in the parietal and frontal areas of the brain.
Is there more bilateral or unilateral activation in older adult brains? Why?
Bilateral. The brain compensates for deterioration by activating both hemispheres.
What does the HAROLD model say about bilateralization in older adults?
It states that bilateralization occurs because the brain is compensating for deterioration by calling for additional resources.
What does the CRUNCH model say about bilateralization in older adults?
It states that the aging brain uses bilaterlization to adapt to neural decline but that is not the only way the brain compensates.
What two mechanisms does the brain use to compensate (according to the CRUNCH model)?
- More of the same - More activation occurs in the same brain region
- Supplementary processes - Different brain regions are activated to compensate for lacking processing resources.
What does the PASA model say about bilateralization in older adults?
It states that an activation shift from the back parts of the brain (posterior) to the front parts (anterior) reflects age-related compensation.
What does the STAC-r Model say about bilateralization in older adults?
It states that adults continue to perform at high levels despite deterioration because of back up neural pathways called scaffoldings.
According to the STAC-r Model, what are some resources that enhance neural resources?
Intellectual engagement, Fitness, Multilingualism
According to the STAC-r Model, what are some resources that deplete neural resources?
Stress, Vascular disease, depression, Head trauma
According to Erikson and colleagues, higher aerobic fitness levels are associated with ____________
Preservation of greater hippocampal volume
What two things can aerobic exercise do for the brain?
It can enhance brain plasticity and counter declines in the hippocampus.
Higher blood plasma levels of _______ and ________ have been associated with better cognitive functioning and better brain volumes
Vitamins B, C, D, E and omega 3 fatty acids
