Interação entre envelhecimento e a memória de trabalho para categorias visuais de objetos e semântica
Miniatura indisponível
Data
2022
Autores
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Resumo
Investigação prévia e extensiva indica que o envelhecimento afeta as capacidades cognitivas
com particular ênfase para as funções executivas e memória de trabalho embora tipicamente
recorrendo ao uso de estímulos visuais com pouca expressão ecológica (e.g. estímulos em
formas de figuras geométricas). Por outro lado, este estudo teve como objetivo estudar
possíveis associações entre o envelhecimento e o processamento de objetos na memoria de
trabalho. Em particular procura-se estabelecer se o envelhecimento afeta o processamento na
memória de trabalho (ao nível de precisão de respostas e tempos de reação) de faces, cenas e
material verbal. Para tal foram recrutados para participar no estudo um total de 55 voluntários
saudáveis. Os sujeitos tinham visão normal ou corrigida, sem histórico de alterações
neurológicas ou transtornos psiquiátricos e nenhum comprometimento cognitivo onde suas
habilidades gerais de controle executivo foram avaliadas com o Montreal Cognitive
Assessment (Moca) e a memória de trabalho com tarefas 1-back. Os resultados demonstram
uma associação entre o envelhecimento e declínio no processamento de faces tanto ao nível
de tempos de reação como ao nível de precisão de respostas. Por se turno, declínio no
processamento de cenas e material verbal apenas se verificou ao nível dos tempos de reação,
mas não ao nível de precisão de resposta. No geral, os resultados encontrados indicam
particular susceptibilidade do envelhecimento no processamento de faces potencialmente
refletindo elevados níveis de especialização/automatização em jovens adultos e certa reserva
cognitiva no que se refere ao processamento de cenas e material verbal (embora o
processamento desta categoria de objetos torna-se mais lento com a idade). Conclui-se que é
importante que sejam criados momentos que permitam a pessoas de mais idade potenciar seu
bem-estar psicológico e social e a necessidade de desenvolver formas de desenvolvimento de
tratamento para permitir melhorar a qualidade de vida e o funcionamento da memória de
trabalho das pessoas com mais idade no cenário atual e futuro.
Previous and extensive research indicates that aging affects cognitive abilities with particular emphasis on executive functions and working memory although typically resorting to the use of visual stimuli with little ecological expression (e.g. stimuli in the form of geometric figures). In turn, this investigation aimed to study possible associations between aging and the processing of visual objects in working memory. In particular, we sought to establish if aging affects the working memory (in terms of response accuracy and reaction times) of faces, scenes and verbal material. For this matter, a total of 55 healthy volunteers were recruited to participate in the study. The subjects had normal or corrected vision, with no history of neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders and no cognitive impairment and their general abilities of executive control were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assesment (Moca) and working memory with the use of cognitive tasks 1-back. The results demonstrate an association between aging and decline in face processing, both in terms of reaction times and response accuracy. On the other hand, a decline in the processing of scenes and verbal material was only verified at the level of reaction times, but not at the level of response accuracy. Overall, the results found indicate a particular susceptibility of aging in the processing of faces, potentially reflecting high levels of specialization/automation in young adults and a certain cognitive reserve regarding the processing of scenes and verbal material (although the processing of this category of objects becomes slower with age). It is concluded that it is important to create moments that allow older people to enhance their psychological and social well-being and the need to develop forms of treatment to improve the quality of life and the functioning of the working memory for older people in the current and future scenario.
Previous and extensive research indicates that aging affects cognitive abilities with particular emphasis on executive functions and working memory although typically resorting to the use of visual stimuli with little ecological expression (e.g. stimuli in the form of geometric figures). In turn, this investigation aimed to study possible associations between aging and the processing of visual objects in working memory. In particular, we sought to establish if aging affects the working memory (in terms of response accuracy and reaction times) of faces, scenes and verbal material. For this matter, a total of 55 healthy volunteers were recruited to participate in the study. The subjects had normal or corrected vision, with no history of neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders and no cognitive impairment and their general abilities of executive control were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assesment (Moca) and working memory with the use of cognitive tasks 1-back. The results demonstrate an association between aging and decline in face processing, both in terms of reaction times and response accuracy. On the other hand, a decline in the processing of scenes and verbal material was only verified at the level of reaction times, but not at the level of response accuracy. Overall, the results found indicate a particular susceptibility of aging in the processing of faces, potentially reflecting high levels of specialization/automation in young adults and a certain cognitive reserve regarding the processing of scenes and verbal material (although the processing of this category of objects becomes slower with age). It is concluded that it is important to create moments that allow older people to enhance their psychological and social well-being and the need to develop forms of treatment to improve the quality of life and the functioning of the working memory for older people in the current and future scenario.
Descrição
Orientação: José Teles
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO EM NEUROPSICOLOGIA APLICADA, NEUROPSICOLOGIA, MEMÓRIA DE TRABALHO, COGNIÇÃO, ENVELHECIMENTO, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, WORKING MEMORY, COGNITION, AGEING