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Distinct aspects of frontal lobe structure mediate age-related differences in fluid intelligence and multitasking

Author

Listed:
  • Rogier A. Kievit

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

  • Simon W. Davis

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Daniel J. Mitchell

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

  • Jason R. Taylor

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
    School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Brunswick Street)

  • John Duncan

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

  • Richard N.A. Henson

    (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

Abstract

Ageing is characterized by declines on a variety of cognitive measures. These declines are often attributed to a general, unitary underlying cause, such as a reduction in executive function owing to atrophy of the prefrontal cortex. However, age-related changes are likely multifactorial, and the relationship between neural changes and cognitive measures is not well-understood. Here we address this in a large (N=567), population-based sample drawn from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) data. We relate fluid intelligence and multitasking to multiple brain measures, including grey matter in various prefrontal regions and white matter integrity connecting those regions. We show that multitasking and fluid intelligence are separable cognitive abilities, with differential sensitivities to age, which are mediated by distinct neural subsystems that show different prediction in older versus younger individuals. These results suggest that prefrontal ageing is a manifold process demanding multifaceted models of neurocognitive ageing.

Suggested Citation

  • Rogier A. Kievit & Simon W. Davis & Daniel J. Mitchell & Jason R. Taylor & John Duncan & Richard N.A. Henson, 2014. "Distinct aspects of frontal lobe structure mediate age-related differences in fluid intelligence and multitasking," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6658
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6658
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    Cited by:

    1. Cox, S.R. & Ritchie, S.J. & Fawns-Ritchie, C. & Tucker-Drob, E.M. & Deary, I.J., 2019. "Structural brain imaging correlates of general intelligence in UK Biobank," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1-1.

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