Parietal stimulation reverses age-related decline in exploration, learning, and decision-making.

ABSTRACT: Aging can compromise decision-making and learning, potentially due to reduced exploratory behaviors crucial for novel problem-solving. We posit that invigorating exploration could mitigate these declines. Supporting this hypothesis, we found that older mice mirrored human aging, displaying less exploration and learning during decision-making, but optogenetic stimulation of their posterior parietal cortex boosted initial exploration, subsequently improving learning. Thus, enhancing exploration-driven learning could be a key to countering cognitive aging.

SUBMITTER: Hwang EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10642975 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature