Sequential processing in young and older adults in the equiprobable auditory Go/NoGo task. Issue 5 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barry, Robert J.; De Blasio, Frances M.; Cave, Adele E.
• Is Part Of: Clinical neurophysiology. Volume 127:Issue 5(2016:May)
• Page Start: 2273
• Page End: 2285
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Ageing -- Event-related potentials (ERPs) -- Auditory equiprobable Go/NoGo task -- Principal components analysis (PCA) -- Sequential processing schema; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Electroencephalography -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.02.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-2457

Abstract

Highlights: A PCA derived sequential processing Go/NoGo schema was confirmed in young adults, with similar processing in healthy older adults. Older adults had comparable Go RT and Go/NoGo error rates, increased latencies and smaller, less differentiated Go/NoGo P3s, and N2c was absent. Go/NoGo processing by older adults may reflect less specialist processing regions, requiring more effort. Abstract: Objective: We recently proposed a sequential processing schema for the equiprobable auditory Go/NoGo task, based on a principal components analysis (PCA) of event-related potentials (ERPs) from a university student sample. Here we sought to replicate the schema, and use it to explore processing in well-functioning older adults. Methods: We compared behavioural responding and ERPs of 20 independent-living older adults ( M age = 68.2 years) to data from a sex- and handedness-matched group of university students ( M age = 20.4 years). ERPs had substantial latency differences between the groups, and hence were subjected to separate group temporal PCAs. Results: Component latencies were systematically increased in the older group by some 26%, with no significant increase in RT or error rates. Despite some differences in their identified components, each group displayed differential component responsivity to Go versus NoGo; this was reduced in the older participants. Conclusion: The results support our processing schema, and provide insight into the processing stages in well-functioning older adults. Significance: Understanding the perceptual and cognitive processing stages in normal ageing is a pre-requisite for research on mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This study may also provide a simple paradigm and schema suitable for further exploration of functionality in ageing.