scholarly journals Differential ageing trajectories in motivation, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility in Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus )

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1811) ◽  
pp. 20190617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva-Maria Rathke ◽  
Julia Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Related Variation ◽  
Societal Norms ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Effect Of Age

Across the lifespan, the performance in problem-solving tasks varies strongly, owing to age-related variation in cognitive abilities as well as the motivation to engage in a task. Non-human primates provide an evolutionary perspective on human cognitive and motivational ageing, as they lack an insight into their own limited lifetime, and ageing trajectories are not affected by customs and societal norms. To test age-related variation in inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and persistence, we presented Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ), living at La Forêt des Singes in Rocamadour (France), with three problem-solving tasks. We conducted 297 trials with 143 subjects aged 2–30 years. We found no effect of age on success and latency to succeed in the inhibitory control task. In the cognitive flexibility task, 21 out of 99 monkeys were able to switch their strategy, but there was no evidence for an effect of age. Yet, the persistence in the motivation task as well as the overall likelihood to participate in any of the tasks declined with increasing age. These results suggest that motivation declines earlier than the cognitive abilities assessed in this study, corroborating the notion that non-human primates and humans show similar changes in motivation in old age. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Evolution of the primate ageing process'.

Performance-based everyday functional competence measures across the adult lifespan: the role of cognitive abilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2059-2069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Borella ◽  
Alessandra Cantarella ◽  
Emilie Joly ◽  
Paolo Ghisletta ◽  
Elena Carbone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Text Comprehension ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Effect Of Age

ABSTRACTBackground:The effects of age on the ability to manage everyday functioning, crucial to ensure a healthy aging process, have been rarely examined and when, self-report measures have been used. The aim of the present study was to examine age effects across the adult lifespan in everyday functioning with two performance-based measures: the Everyday Problems Test (EPT), and the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) tasks. The role of some crucial cognitive abilities, i.e. working memory (WM), processing speed, reasoning, vocabulary, and text comprehension in the EPT and the TIADL were also assessed to see whether or not they have a similar influence (and to what extent) in accounting for age-related effects in these two performance-based measures.Method:Two hundred and seventy-six healthy participants, from 40 to 89 years of age were presented with the EPT, the TIADL, as well as WM, processing speed, reasoning, text comprehension, and vocabulary tasks.Results:Path models indicated an indirect effect of age and education on the EPT, which was mediated by all the cognitive variables considered, with WM and reasoning being the strongest predictors of performance. An indirect quadratic effect of age, but not of education, was found on the TIADL score, and an accelerated decline in processing speed mediated the relationship between age and the TIADL score.ConclusionThis study revealed age-related effects in performance-based measures, which are mediated by different cognitive abilities depending on the measure considered. The findings highlight the importance of assessing everyday functioning even in healthy older adults.

The Effectiveness of Design Interventions in Improving the Ability of Older People to Perform Computer-Based Work

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J. Czaja ◽  
Joseph Sharit ◽  
Sankaran Nair
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Impact

The objective of the current research was to evaluate the impact of age on the performance of computer-based work in order to develop design interventions that enhance the ability of older adults to perform these tasks. Specifically, two computer tasks, data entry, and a complex problem solving were investigated. Participants ranged in age from 20–75 years. Overall, the results indicted age differences in performance of both tasks. The younger participants had higher levels of performance Further, the results indicated that age-related differences in component cognitive abilities were related to performance. These data were used to develop design interventions such as modifying the layout of screen information. This paper presents data from the intervention studies. Overall the findings indicate that the interventions improved performance for all participants. For example, there were fewer keystroke errors for the data entry task and problem solving time was reduced for the problem solving task. These data are discussed in terms of understanding the extent to which fundamental interface design interventions can benefit older adults.

scholarly journals The developmental trajectories of executive function from adolescence to old age

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather J. Ferguson ◽  
Victoria E. A. Brunsdon ◽  
Elisabeth E. F. Bradford
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

AbstractExecutive functions demonstrate variable developmental and aging profiles, with protracted development into early adulthood and declines in older age. However, relatively few studies have specifically included middle-aged adults in investigations of age-related differences in executive functions. This study explored the age-related differences in executive function from late childhood through to old age, allowing a more informed understanding of executive functions across the lifespan. Three hundred and fifty participants aged 10 to 86 years-old completed a battery of tasks assessing the specific roles of inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning. Results highlighted continued improvement in working memory capacity across adolescence and into young adulthood, followed by declines in both working memory and inhibitory control, beginning from as early as 30–40 years old and continuing into older age. Analyses of planning abilities showed continued improvement across adolescence and into young adulthood, followed by a decline in abilities across adulthood, with a small (positive) change in older age. Interestingly, a dissociation was found for cognitive flexibility; switch costs decreased, yet mixing costs increased across the lifespan. The results provide a description of the developmental differences in inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility and planning, above any effects of IQ or SES, and highlight the importance of including middle-aged adults in studies seeking to establish a more comprehensive picture of age-related differences in executive function.

scholarly journals Early Life Cognitive Abilities and Body Weight: Cross-Sectional Study of the Association of Inhibitory Control, Cognitive Flexibility, and Sustained Attention with BMI Percentiles in Primary School Children

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Wirt ◽  
Anja Schreiber ◽  
Dorothea Kesztyüs ◽  
Jürgen M. Steinacker
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
School Children ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Cross Sectional

The objective of this study was to investigate the association of different cognitive abilities with children’s body weight adjusted for further weight influencing sociodemographic, family, and lifestyle factors. Cross-sectional data of 498 primary school children (7.0 ± 0.6 years; 49.8% boys) participating in a health promotion programme in southwest Germany were used. Children performed a computer-based test battery (KiTAP) including an inhibitory control task (Go-Nogo paradigm), a cognitive flexibility task, and a sustained attention task. Height and weight were measured in a standardized manner and converted to BMI percentiles based on national standards. Sociodemographic features (migration background and parental education), family characteristics (parental body weight), and children’s lifestyle (TV consumption, physical activity, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and breakfast habits) were assessed via parental questionnaire. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility to be significant cognitive predictors for children’s body weight. There was no association concerning sustained attention. The findings suggest that especially cognitive abilities known as executive functions (inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility) are associated with children’s body weight. Future longitudinal and intervention studies are necessary to investigate the directionality of the association and the potential of integrating cognitive training in obesity prevention strategies. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.govDRKS00000494.

scholarly journals Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Executive Functions in Preschool and School-Age Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 977-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Laure Beaussart ◽  
Sébastien Barbarot ◽  
Claire Mauger ◽  
Arnaud Roy
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Neurofibromatosis Type ◽  
Planning Problem

AbstractObjectives:Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder in which the most frequent complication in children is learning disabilities. Over the past decade, growing arguments support the idea that executive dysfunction is a core deficit in children with NF1. However, some data remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of impairment for each executive function (EF) and clarify the impact of methodological choices and participant’s characteristics on EFs.Methods:In this meta-analysis, 19 studies met the selection criteria and were included with data from a total of 805 children with NF1 and 667 controls. Based on the Diamond’s model (2013), EF measures were coded separately according to the following EF components: working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, planning/problem solving. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews; CRD42017068808).Results:A significant executive dysfunction in children with NF1 is demonstrated. Subgroup analysis showed that the impairment varied as a function of the specific component of executive functioning. The effect size for working memory and planning/problem solving was moderate whereas it was small for inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Executive dysfunction seems to be greater with increasing age whereas assessment tool type, intellectual performance, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and control group composition did not seem to affect EF results.Conclusions:EF deficits are a core feature in children with NF1 and an early identification of executive dysfunctions is essential to limit their impact on the quality of life. (JINS, 2018,24, 977–994)

scholarly journals Enhanced problem-solving ability as an adaptation to urban environments in house mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1945) ◽  
pp. 20202504
Author(s):  
Lara Vrbanec ◽  
Vanja Matijević ◽  
Anja Guenther
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Important Trait ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Problem Solve

Humans have a large impact on the distribution and abundance of animal species worldwide. The ecological effects of human-altered environments are being increasingly recognized and understood, but their effects on evolution are largely unknown. Enhanced cognitive abilities and the ability to innovate have been suggested as crucial traits for thriving in human-altered habitats. We tested if house mice ( Mus musculus ) subspecies have evolved enhanced innovative problem-solving abilities throughout their commensal lives with humans. The time that subspecies lived commensally with humans ranges between approximately 3000 years to more than 11 000 years, thus providing an excellent example of human–animal coexistence. In addition, we tested whether differences in problem-solving were mediated by differences in object and place exploration, motivation, persistence or inhibitory control. We found that populations of subspecies living commensally the longest excelled in problem-solving across seven food-extraction tasks over subspecies living commensally short or intermediate times. These differences were not mediated by exploration, motivation, persistence or inhibitory control suggesting that subspecies have evolved better cognitive abilities when living commensally in urban environments. This suggests that the ability to problem-solve may be an important trait promoting prosperity in human-altered environments.

scholarly journals Sex-dependent effects of chronic exercise on cognitive flexibility but not hippocampal Bdnf in aging mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabel Short ◽  
Viet Bui ◽  
Isabel Zbukvic ◽  
Anthony Hannan ◽  
Terence Pang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Conditioned Fear ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Running Wheel ◽  
Bdnf Mrna ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Old Mice

Cognitive impairments associated with advanced age involve alterations in the hippocampus that changes to experience throughout life. The hippocampus is critical for cognitive flexibility involved with extinction and reinstatement of conditioned fear. It is widely accepted that regular exercise can be beneficial for hippocampal function. Therefore, we asked whether chronic voluntary exercise in middle-aged mice can improve extinction and/or reinstatement of conditioned fear compared to standard housing. Eight-month-old male and female C57Bl/6J mice had access to a running wheel or remained in standard housing until 11 months of age. Alongside control standard-housed young adult (3-month-old) mice, they received tone-footshock pairings, which were subsequently extinguished with tone-alone presentations the next day. Half of the mice then received a reminder in the form of a single footshock. Male and female 11-month-old mice housed in standard conditions exhibited impaired reinstatement compared to young adult mice. However, for males that had access to a running wheel from 8 months of age, the reminder treatment rescued reinstatement ability. This was not observed in females. Additionally, exercise during middle age in both sexes increased expression of Bdnf mRNA in the hippocampus, specifically exon 4 mRNA. These results show that, at least for males, physical exercise is beneficial for reducing age-related decline in cognitive abilities. Despite not affecting reinstatement, exercise also increased Bdnf gene expression in the female hippocampus, which could potentially benefit other forms of hippocampus-dependent cognition.

scholarly journals Sex-dependent effects of chronic exercise on cognitive flexibility in aging mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabel K. Short ◽  
Viet Bui ◽  
Isabel C. Zbukvic ◽  
Anthony J. Hannan ◽  
Terence Y. Pang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Conditioned Fear ◽  
Chronic Exercise ◽  
Running Wheel ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Reminder Treatment ◽  
Old Mice

AbstractCognitive impairments associated with advanced age are a growing concern in our aging society. Such impairments are associated with alterations in brain structure and function, especially in the hippocampus, which changes to experience throughout life. It is well-known that regular exercise can maintain hippocampus volume. The hippocampus is critical for cognitive flexibility involved with extinction and reinstatement of conditioned fear. Therefore, we asked whether voluntary chronic exercise in middle-aged mice can improve extinction and/or reinstatement of conditioned fear compared to standard housing. Eight-month-old male and female C57Bl/6J mice had access to a running wheel or remained in standard housing until 11 months of age. Alongside control standard-housed young adult (3-month-old) mice, they received tone-footshock pairings, which were subsequently extinguished with tone-alone presentations the next day. Half of the mice then received a reminder treatment in the form of a single footshock. Both male and female 11-month-old mice housed in standard conditions exhibited impaired reinstatement compared to young adult mice. However, for males that had access to a running wheel from 8 months of age, the reminder treatment rescued reinstatement ability. This was not observed in females. Additionally, exercise during middle age in both sexes increased expression of Bdnf mRNA in the hippocampus, specifically exon 4 mRNA. These results show that, at least for males, physical exercise is beneficial for reducing age-related decline in cognitive abilities. Despite not rescuing their impaired reinstatement, exercise also increased Bdnf gene expression in the female hippocampus, which could potentially benefit other forms of hippocampal-dependent cognition.

scholarly journals Cognitive Flexibility and Inhibition in Individuals with Age-Related Hearing Loss

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Shraddha A. Shende ◽  
Lydia T. Nguyen ◽  
Elizabeth A. Lydon ◽  
Fatima T. Husain ◽  
Raksha A. Mudar
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Control Processes ◽  
Hearing Ability ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Growing evidence suggests alterations in cognitive control processes in individuals with varying degrees of age-related hearing loss (ARHL); however, alterations in those with unaided mild ARHL are understudied. The current study examined two cognitive control processes, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition, in 21 older adults with unaided mild ARHL and 18 age- and education-matched normal hearing (NH) controls. All participants underwent comprehensive audiological and cognitive evaluations including Trail Making Test-B, Verbal Fluency, Stroop, and two Go/NoGo tasks. Group differences in cognitive flexibility and inhibition as well as associations between peripheral and central hearing ability and measures of cognitive flexibility and inhibition were investigated. Findings revealed that the ARHL group took significantly longer to complete the Stroop task and had higher error rates on NoGo trials on both Go/NoGo tasks relative to the NH controls. Additionally, poorer peripheral and central hearing were associated with poorer cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. Our findings suggest slower and more inefficient inhibitory control in the mild ARHL group relative to the NH group and add to decades of research on the association between hearing and cognition.

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