Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

BackgroundThe n-back task is a widely used paradigm to assess working memory and is commonly applied in research on age-related cognitive decline. However, studies utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore this area are limited.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate age-rel...

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Main Authors: Shizhe Zhu, Qinglei Wang, Chaojie Kan, Ayan Geng, Youxin Sui, Ren Zhuang, Yi Zhu, Tong Wang, Lan Zhu, Chuan Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1437587/full
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author Shizhe Zhu
Qinglei Wang
Chaojie Kan
Ayan Geng
Youxin Sui
Ren Zhuang
Yi Zhu
Tong Wang
Lan Zhu
Chuan Guo
author_facet Shizhe Zhu
Qinglei Wang
Chaojie Kan
Ayan Geng
Youxin Sui
Ren Zhuang
Yi Zhu
Tong Wang
Lan Zhu
Chuan Guo
author_sort Shizhe Zhu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe n-back task is a widely used paradigm to assess working memory and is commonly applied in research on age-related cognitive decline. However, studies utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore this area are limited.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate age-related differences in brain activation during the n-back task using fNIRS.MethodsfNIRS data were collected from 18 elderly and 19 young participants while performing different n-back tasks. Brain activation patterns and peripheral performance were compared between the two groups.ResultsSignificant differences in brain activation patterns were observed between elderly and young participants. Under the 3-back condition, the older group exhibited reduced activation in brain regions adjacent to prefrontal cognitive areas compared to the younger group. Additionally, the older group’s performance plateaued at the 2-back level, along with a decline in prefrontal activation.ConclusionThese findings may suggest potential markers for cognitive decline, providing a new target for future screening.
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issn 1663-4365
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-ea258108d29b40a8a0506fdcfe5513fa2025-08-20T01:47:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652024-10-011610.3389/fnagi.2024.14375871437587Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy studyShizhe Zhu0Qinglei Wang1Chaojie Kan2Ayan Geng3Youxin Sui4Ren Zhuang5Yi Zhu6Tong Wang7Lan Zhu8Chuan Guo9Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changzhou Dean Hospital, Changzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changzhou Dean Hospital, Changzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaBackgroundThe n-back task is a widely used paradigm to assess working memory and is commonly applied in research on age-related cognitive decline. However, studies utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore this area are limited.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate age-related differences in brain activation during the n-back task using fNIRS.MethodsfNIRS data were collected from 18 elderly and 19 young participants while performing different n-back tasks. Brain activation patterns and peripheral performance were compared between the two groups.ResultsSignificant differences in brain activation patterns were observed between elderly and young participants. Under the 3-back condition, the older group exhibited reduced activation in brain regions adjacent to prefrontal cognitive areas compared to the younger group. Additionally, the older group’s performance plateaued at the 2-back level, along with a decline in prefrontal activation.ConclusionThese findings may suggest potential markers for cognitive decline, providing a new target for future screening.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1437587/fullfNIRSagingn-backcerebral activationworking memory
spellingShingle Shizhe Zhu
Qinglei Wang
Chaojie Kan
Ayan Geng
Youxin Sui
Ren Zhuang
Yi Zhu
Tong Wang
Lan Zhu
Chuan Guo
Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
fNIRS
aging
n-back
cerebral activation
working memory
title Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
title_full Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
title_fullStr Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
title_full_unstemmed Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
title_short Age-related cerebral changes during different n-back tasks: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
title_sort age related cerebral changes during different n back tasks a functional near infrared spectroscopy study
topic fNIRS
aging
n-back
cerebral activation
working memory
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1437587/full
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