08-24 – Exploring the Underlying Neural Mechanisms of Working Memory in Older Adults

Working memory (WM) is the capacity to temporarily store and manipulate information to ensure the successful completion of a task. WM is significantly affected by age-related decline and progressive neurodegeneration. Compared to their younger counterparts, older adults exhibit substantial structural and functional neural changes, necessitating reliance on different compensatory mechanisms to maintain cognitive performance. The theta and alpha bands have been extensively studied to understand these neural changes and compensatory mechanisms in both younger and older populations. These bands are particularly relevant as they are highly modulated by cognitive load and temporo-spatial dynamics, interactions that have been insufficiently explored specially in the latest age group. In this study, two widely known tests—the Letter Span and the Corsi Block-tapping Test—were adapted to have a high cognitive load and to include distinct WM phases (encoding, maintenance, manipulation, and retrieval). Thirty younger and thirty-four older adults completed these challenging tests while their oscillatory activity was measured using electroencephalography (EEG). We analysed the differences in theta and alpha bands between younger and older adults at each stage of the WM process and the neural changes within stages. Additionally, we explored potential predictors of performance, including individual differences such as levels of education and problem-solving capacities. Preliminary findings, implications, and future research directions will be discussed.