Age effects on episodic memory: Neuropsychology, electrophysiology, and modeling

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目的主要目标是研究在正常成人衰老过程中，情景记忆如何随额叶（FL）和中颞叶（MTL）功能的变化而变化。为此，我们将采用三种互补的方法，包括：(1)设计用于对FL和MTL功能敏感的神经心理学电池，（2)事件相关电位（ERP）测量，以及（3)认知过程建模，包括a）记忆的分层模型（以单过程和双过程账户为特殊情况），以及b） Ratcliff的扩散模型（1978）。年轻和年长的参与者将完成一个神经心理学测试和两个识别记忆任务（一个联想记忆和一个记住-知道任务）。该电池将用于描述年轻和老年参与者的FL和MTL功能（分别为高或低），将获得每个参与者在两个记忆任务中的行为测量（准确性，反应时间和信心评级），并将记录在记忆-知道任务的编码和检索阶段的erp。erp将用于检查不同检索过程的电生理特征（基于熟悉性，基于回忆，整体旧/新判断）以及导致所有参与者组（具有高或低FL/MTL功能的年轻人或老年人）中这些检索差异的编码。层次模型和扩散模型将拟合行为数据，以表征年龄和FL/MTL功能对联想和项目识别以及基于回忆和熟悉的判断的影响。本研究的具体目的是：(1)从高、低FL和MTL功能的年龄独立效应中分离出不同年龄轨迹对情景记忆的影响；(2)研究FL和MTL功能和年龄对编码和检索过程中新旧记忆效应的ERP指标以及基于回忆和熟悉度的识别判断的影响。(3)在控制记忆强度的情况下，研究回忆和熟悉度的编码和检索阶段ERP指数；(4)建立并应用层次过程模型，研究年龄和FL/MTL功能在情景记忆中对联想和项目信息以及基于回忆和熟悉度的过程的影响；(5)应用扩散模型来描述与年龄和FL/ mtl相关的情景记忆中联想和项目信息以及回忆和熟悉程度的损害的性质。总之，该项目将提供一个丰富的数据集来测试关于年轻人和老年人FL/MTL功能与情景记忆之间关系的假设。它还包含一些涉及多种方法方法的创新。研究结果将有助于更深入、更全面地了解情景记忆的年龄相关变化和个体差异。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of the proposed project is to study how episodic memory changes with frontal-lobe (FL) and medial-temporal lobe (MTL) functioning during normal adult aging. Towards this end, we will apply three complimentary approaches involving (1) a neuropsychological battery designed to be sensitive to FL and MTL functioning, (2) event-related potential (ERP) measures, and (3) cognitive-process modeling, including a) hierarchical models of memory (with single- and dual-process accounts as special cases), and b) Ratcliff's diffusion model (1978). Young and older adult participants will complete a neuropsychological battery and two recognition memory tasks (an associative memory and a remember-know task). The battery will be used to characterize the FL and MTL functioning (high or low for each) of both young and older adult participants, behavioral measures (accuracy, response time, and confidence ratings) will be obtained for each participant in both memory tasks, and ERPs will be recorded during both the encoding and retrieval phases of the remember-know task. The ERPs will be used to examine the electrophysiological signatures of different retrieval processes (familiarity-based, recollection-based, overall old/new judgment) and the encoding that leads to these retrieval differences in all participant groups (young or older adults with high or low FL/MTL function). The hierarchical and diffusion models will be fit t the behavioral data to characterize the effects of age and FL/MTL function on associative and item recognition, as well as on recollection- and familiarity-based judgments. The specific aims of the proposed research are to (1) disentangle effects of the different aging trajectories on episodic memory from age-independent effects of high vs. low FL and MTL functioning, (2) examine the influence of FL and MTL functioning and age on ERP indices of old-new memory effects, as well as recognition judgments based on recollection and familiarity, during encoding and retrieval, (3) examine encoding and retrieval phase ERP indices of recollection and familiarity while controlling for mnemonic strength, (4) develop and apply hierarchical process models to study effects of age and FL/MTL function in episodic memory for associative and item information and for recollection- and familiarity-based processes, and (5) apply the diffusion model to characterize the nature of age- and FL/MTL-related impairments in episodic memory for associative and item information and for recollection and familiarity. In summary, the proposed project will provide a rich dataset to test hypotheses concerning the relationship between FL/MTL functioning and episodic memory in younger and older adults. It also contains a number of innovations involving multiple methodological approaches. The results will contribute to a deeper and more integrated understanding of age-related changes and individual differences in episodic memory. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Lapses in memory are one of the most prevalent and noticeable changes associated with aging. The proposed research will employ behavioral, neuropsychological, electrophysiological, and formal computational approaches to study how episodic memory changes with adult aging and frontal-lobe and medial-temporal lobe functioning. By contributing towards a deeper and more integrated understanding of these changes, the results should help address a pervasive and debilitating problem of cognitive aging.