Abstract

While there is evidence that sensory processing and multisensory integration change with age, links between these alterations and their relation to cognitive status remain unclear. In this study, we assessed sensory thresholds and performance of healthy younger and older adults in a visuotactile delayed match-to-sample task. Using Bayesian structural equation modelling (BSEM), we explored the factors explaining cognitive status in the group of older adults. Additionally, we applied transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to a parieto-central network found to underlie visuotactile interactions and working memory matching in our previous work. Response times and signal detection measures indicated enhanced multisensory integration and enhanced benefit from successful working memory matching in older adults. Further, tACS caused a frequency-specific speeding (20 Hz) and delaying (70 Hz) of responses. Data exploration suggested distinct underlying factors for sensory acuity and sensitivity d’ on the one side, and multisensory and working memory enhancement on the other side. Finally, BSEM showed that these two factors labelled ‘sensory capability’ and ‘information integration’ independently explained cognitive status. We conclude that sensory decline and enhanced information integration might relate to distinct processes of ageing and discuss a potential role of the parietal cortex in mediating augmented integration in older adults.

Details

Title
Sensory capability and information integration independently explain the cognitive status of healthy older adults
Author
Misselhorn Jonas 1 ; Göschl Florian 1 ; Higgen, Focko L 2 ; Hummel, Friedhelm C 3 ; Gerloff, Christian 2 ; Engel, Andreas K 1 

 University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, Hamburg, Germany (GRID:grid.13648.38) (ISNI:0000 0001 2180 3484) 
 University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Neurology, Hamburg, Germany (GRID:grid.13648.38) (ISNI:0000 0001 2180 3484) 
 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Geneva, Switzerland (GRID:grid.5333.6) (ISNI:0000000121839049); Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Valais (EPFL Valais), Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Sion, Switzerland (GRID:grid.483411.b) (ISNI:0000 0004 0516 5912); Medical School University of Geneva, Clinical Neuroscience, Geneva, Switzerland (GRID:grid.8591.5) (ISNI:0000 0001 2322 4988) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2474384602
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.