Projects per year
Abstract
Introduction
Despite the thalamus’ dense connectivity with both cortical and subcortical structures, few studies have specifically investigated how thalamic connectivity changes with age and how such changes are associated with behavior. This study investigated the effect of age on thalamo‐cortical and thalamo‐hippocampal functional connectivity (FC) and the association between thalamic FC and visual–spatial memory and reaction time (RT) performance in older adults.
Methods
Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance images were obtained from younger (n = 20) and older (n = 20) adults. A seed‐based approach was used to assess the FC between the thalamus and (1) sensory resting‐state networks; (2) the hippocampus. Participants also completed visual–spatial memory and RT tasks, from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Results
Older adults exhibited a loss of specificity in the FC between sensory thalamic subregions and corresponding sensory cortex. Greater thalamo‐motor FC in older adults was associated with faster RTs. Furthermore, older adults exhibited greater thalamo‐hippocampal FC compared to younger adults, which was greatest for those with the poorest visual–spatial memory performance.
Conclusion
Although older adults exhibited poorer visual–spatial memory and slower reaction times compared to younger adults, “good” and “poorer” older performers exhibited different patterns of thalamo‐cortical and thalamo‐hippocampal FC. These results highlight the potential role of thalamic connectivity in supporting reaction times and memory in aging. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of including the thalamus in studies of aging to fully understand how brain changes with age may be associated with behavior.
Despite the thalamus’ dense connectivity with both cortical and subcortical structures, few studies have specifically investigated how thalamic connectivity changes with age and how such changes are associated with behavior. This study investigated the effect of age on thalamo‐cortical and thalamo‐hippocampal functional connectivity (FC) and the association between thalamic FC and visual–spatial memory and reaction time (RT) performance in older adults.
Methods
Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance images were obtained from younger (n = 20) and older (n = 20) adults. A seed‐based approach was used to assess the FC between the thalamus and (1) sensory resting‐state networks; (2) the hippocampus. Participants also completed visual–spatial memory and RT tasks, from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Results
Older adults exhibited a loss of specificity in the FC between sensory thalamic subregions and corresponding sensory cortex. Greater thalamo‐motor FC in older adults was associated with faster RTs. Furthermore, older adults exhibited greater thalamo‐hippocampal FC compared to younger adults, which was greatest for those with the poorest visual–spatial memory performance.
Conclusion
Although older adults exhibited poorer visual–spatial memory and slower reaction times compared to younger adults, “good” and “poorer” older performers exhibited different patterns of thalamo‐cortical and thalamo‐hippocampal FC. These results highlight the potential role of thalamic connectivity in supporting reaction times and memory in aging. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of including the thalamus in studies of aging to fully understand how brain changes with age may be associated with behavior.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e00943 |
Journal | Brain and Behavior |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 27 Feb 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2018 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Thalamic functional connectivity and its association with behavioural performance in older age'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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The Human Brain as a Complex System: Investigating the Relationship between Structural and Functioninal Networks in the Thalamocortical System
Bagshaw, A. (Principal Investigator) & Arvanitis, T. (Co-Investigator)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council
3/09/12 → 31/12/15
Project: Research Councils
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Development of human EEG-ASL-BOLD neuroimaging and math modelling framework to quantify neoronal, haemodynamic and metabolic responses to stimulation
Mayhew, S. (Principal Investigator)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council
1/10/11 → 30/09/14
Project: Research Councils