Open AccessAge‐related changes in the cerebral substrates of cognitive procedural learning
Author(s) -
Hubert Valérie,
Beaunieux Hélène,
Chételat Gaël,
Platel Hervé,
Landeau Brigitte,
Viader Fausto,
Desgranges Béatrice,
Eustache Francis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.20605
Subject(s) - cognition , psychology , associative learning , neuroscience , cerebellum , posterior cingulate , psychomotor learning , cognitive psychology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , audiology , developmental psychology , medicine
Cognitive procedural learning occurs in three qualitatively different phases (cognitive, associative, and autonomous). At the beginning of this process, numerous cognitive functions are involved, subtended by distinct brain structures such as the prefrontal and parietal cortex and the cerebellum. As the learning progresses, these cognitive components are gradually replaced by psychomotor abilities, reflected by the increasing involvement of the cerebellum, thalamus, and occipital regions. In elderly subjects, although cognitive studies have revealed a learning effect, performance levels differ during the acquisition of a procedure. The effects of age on the learning of a cognitive procedure have not yet been examined using functional imaging. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the cerebral substrates involved in the learning of a cognitive procedure, comparing a group of older subjects with young controls. For this purpose, we performed a positron emission tomography activation study using the Tower of Toronto task. A direct comparison of the two groups revealed the involvement of a similar network of brain regions at the beginning of learning (cognitive phase). However, the engagement of frontal and cingulate regions persisted in the older group as learning continued, whereas it ceased in the younger controls. We assume that this additional activation in the older group during the associative and autonomous phases reflected compensatory processes and the fact that some older subjects failed to fully automate the procedure. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.