“The Key to Strong Memory: Stable Hippocampal Activity Revealed in Adulthood”

Study conducted at the Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition in Norway analyzed cognitive performance in a group of 277 participants aged 20 and older over a 9.3-year period, focusing on memory and brain activity during encoding and retrieval tasks. The research found correlations between memory performance and multi-modal hippocampal features in adulthood and aging, with distinct memory groups identified based on performance levels. This study adds valuable insights into the relationship between brain function and memory across different age groups.

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A cohort of 277 cognitively healthy participants, ranging from 20 to 81 years old, was recruited from a brain and cognition study at the University of Oslo. They underwent various brain imaging scans and longitudinal assessments over a period of almost a decade. All participants provided informed consent and had no history of neurological or psychiatric conditions.

During fMRI tasks, participants were engaged in an associative encoding task followed by an unannounced memory test. The encoding task involved assessing everyday objects based on specific questions, while the memory test challenged participants to recognize previously seen items. The data collected from these tasks were analyzed to understand memory performance across different age groups.

The hippocampus, a key brain region for memory function, was segmented into anterior and posterior sections to study activity patterns during encoding and retrieval tasks. Additionally, memory performance was assessed using various out-of-scanner memory tests to compare with in-scanner memory measures.

Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships between hippocampal activity, memory performance, age, and cognitive function. The findings were analyzed using generalized additive models and ANOVA tests to uncover patterns and interactions between different variables.

Overall, this comprehensive study provided valuable insights into how age, memory performance, and brain activity intersect in the context of cognitive health and aging. The results contribute to our understanding of memory processes in adulthood and highlight the importance of studying brain function across the lifespan.

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