Reasons For Cognitive Change Flashcards
What cognitive processes change?
Speed of processing, working memory and attention decline
What causes these changes?
Axonal deterioration
Reduction in neurotransmitters
Cell death
Plasticity
What axonal deterioration?
White matter in brain suffers wear and tear over lifespan
Myelin sheath around axons that makes it look white also speed up neural transmissions
This becomes damaged or worn away
What does axonal deterioration cause?
Slows down speed of processing
Decline in working memory, esp when divided or switching attention is required
Person unable to process information quickly enough to retain in memory, especially if they are attending to multiple stimuli and distractions
What happens with a reduction in neurotransmitters?
Dopamine shows a decline in frontal cortex of older adults
Negatively affects transmission of impulses over synapses and slows neural transmission
Results in overall decline in executive function and memory
What are the findings on brain cell death?
As part of normal ageing:
Early studies - considerable loss
Recent studies - loss in certain types of cells, certain areas or none at all
How can cell death affect cognition?
One area found to show cell death is hippocampus
Plays significant role in forming new memories
Cell death here does not indicate significant memory decline by itself, but can in combination with other reasons mentioned
What is brain plasticity?
Brain retains capacity for structural modification into old age
Dendrites may continue to grow into late 70s
Helps compensate for cell lose or damage
Helps counteract some of other changes that occur in adulthood that impact on cognitive processes
How do we achieve plasticity?
Use it or lose it principle
Brain needs to be challenged with novel or stimulating tasks that require new ways of thinking
Forms new pathways
