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Neural reorganization and compensation in aging
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:22 authored by Alexa MorcomAlexa Morcom, Wendy JohnsonAccording to prominent theories of aging, the brain may reorganize in order to compensate for neural deterioration, and prevent or offset cognitive decline. A frequent and striking finding in functional imaging studies is that older adults recruit additional regions relative to young adults performing the same task. This is often interpreted as evidence for functional reorganization, suggesting that as people age, different regions or networks may support the same cognitive functions. Associations between additional recruitment and better performance in older adults have led to the suggestion that the additional recruitment may contribute to preserved cognitive function in old age, and may explain some of the variation among individuals in preservation of function. However, many alternative explanations are possible, and recent findings and methodological developments have highlighted the need for more systematic approaches to determine whether reorganization occurs with age and whether it benefits performance. We re-evaluate current evidence for compensatory functional reorganization in the light of recent moves to address these challenges.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of Cognitive NeuroscienceISSN
0898-929XPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology PressExternal DOI
Issue
7Volume
27Page range
1275-1285Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes