Aging-related changes in auditory and visual integration measured with MEG.
Neurosci Lett
; 484(1): 76-80, 2010 Oct 22.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20713130
ABSTRACT
As noted in the aging literature, processing delays often occur in the central nervous system with increasing age, which is often attributable in part to demyelination. In addition, differential slowing between sensory systems has been shown to be most discrepant between visual (up to 20ms) and auditory systems (<5ms). Therefore, we used MEG to measure the multisensory integration response in auditory association cortex in young and elderly participants to better understand the effects of aging on multisensory integration abilities. Results show a main effect for reaction times (RTs); the mean RTs of the elderly were significantly slower than the young. In addition, in the young we found significant facilitation of RTs to the multisensory stimuli relative to both unisensory stimuli, when comparing the cumulative distribution functions, which was not evident for the elderly. We also identified a significant interaction between age and condition in the superior temporal gyrus. In particular, the elderly had larger amplitude responses (â¼100ms) to auditory stimuli relative to the young when auditory stimuli alone were presented, whereas the amplitude of responses to the multisensory stimuli was reduced in the elderly, relative to the young. This suppressed cortical multisensory integration response in the elderly, which corresponded with slower RTs and reduced RT facilitation effects, has not been reported previously and may be related to poor cortical integration based on timing changes in unisensory processing in the elderly.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Percepção Auditiva
/
Percepção Visual
/
Envelhecimento
/
Córtex Cerebral
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neurosci Lett
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos