An application of prefrontal cortex function theory to cognitive aging

Journal/Book: Psychol Bull. 1996; 120: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 272-292.

Abstract: The purpose of this review is to extend the existing application of the frontal lobe hypothesis of cognitive aging beyond the limited work on inhibitory control (F. N. Dempster, 1992) to include memory processes supported by the prefrontal cortex. To establish a background for this analysis, I review existing models of prefrontal cortex function and present a synthesized model that includes a general function of temporal integration, supported by 4 specific processes: prospective memory, retrospective memory, interference control, and inhibition of prepotent responses. I found the frontal lobe hypothesis to perform well, with the exception of an inability to account for age-related declines in item recall and recognition memory, possibly a result of age-related declines in medial temporal function.

Note: Review RL West, Rotman Inst, Baycrest Ctr Geriatr Care, 3560 Bathhurst St, N York, on M6A 2E1, Canada

Keyword(s): CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW; POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY; ADULT AGE-DIFFERENCES; SHORT-TERM-MEMORY; HUMAN FRONTAL-CORTEX; HUMAN-BRAIN; FREQUENCY JUDGMENTS; SUSTAINED-ATTENTION; OLDER ADULTS; STROOP INTERFERENCE

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