Deficit in switching between functional brain networks underlies the impact of multitasking on working memory in older adults.

ABSTRACT: Multitasking negatively influences the retention of information over brief periods of time. This impact of interference on working memory is exacerbated with normal aging. We used functional MRI to investigate the neural basis by which an interruption is more disruptive to working memory performance in older individuals. Younger and older adults engaged in delayed recognition tasks both with and without interruption by a secondary task. Behavioral analysis revealed that working memory performance was more impaired by interruptions in older compared with younger adults. Functional connectivity analyses showed that when interrupted, older adults disengaged from a memory maintenance network and reallocated attentional resources toward the interrupting stimulus in a manner consistent with youn

SUBMITTER: Clapp WC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3084135 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature