Stronger right hemisphere functional connectivity supports executive aspects of language in older adults

Victoria H. Gertel, Haoyun Zhang, Michele T. Diaz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Healthy older adults commonly report increased difficulties with language production. This could reflect decline in the language network, or age-related declines in other cognitive abilities that support language production, such as executive function. To examine this possibility, we conducted a whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis in older and younger adults using two seed regions—the left posterior superior temporal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus. Whole-brain connectivities were then correlated with Stroop task performance to investigate the relationship between RSFC and executive function. We found that overall, younger adults had stronger RSFC than older adults. Moreover, in older, but not younger, adults stronger RSFC between left IFG and right hemisphere executive function regions correlated with better Stroop performance. This suggests that stronger RSFC among older adults between left IFG and right hemisphere regions may serve a compensatory function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number104771
JournalBrain and Language
Volume206
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Speech and Hearing

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