Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Head D, Raz N, Gunning-Dixon F, Williamson A, Acker J
Journal Psychol Aging
Volume 17
Issue 1
Pagination 72-84
Date Published 03/01/2002
ISSN 0882-7974
Keywords Aging, Cerebral Cortex, Problem Solving
Abstract This study examined the impact of age-related differences in regional cerebral volumes and cognitive resources on acquisition of a cognitive skill. Volumes of brain regions were measured on magnetic resonance images of healthy adults (aged 22-80). At the early stage of learning to solve the Tower of Hanoi puzzle, speed and efficiency were associated with age, prefrontal cortex volume, and working memory. A similar pattern of brain-behavior associations was observed with perseveration measured on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. None of the examined structural brain variables were important at the later stages of skill acquisition. When hypertensive participants were excluded, the effect of prefrontal shrinkage on executive aspects of performance was no longer significant, but the effect of working memory remained.
DOI 10.1037//0882-7974.17.1.72
PubMed ID 11931289
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