Tremblay, Dick, and Small (BA4 and BA5)

Results

1. YP = 15 errors in 960+ trials OP = 14 errors in 960+ trials 2. Widespread bilateral brain activation not correlated with age 3. Perception = large cluster activated across temporal lobe 4. Production = bilateral clusters in ventral primary motor cortex 5. YP = denser grey matter

Conclusion

1. distribution of function 2. The brain overcomes structural age-related differences

Strengths

1. noninvasive 2. no gender bias 3. objective

Temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

Limitations

OP group is early edge of older age, may not show deficiencies yet Small sample of 39, not enough to draw reliable conclusions

Ventral primary motor cortex

Speech production/motor movements

Aim

To investigate age-related differences (functional and structural) in the cortical network pertaining to speech perception/production

Sample

Two groups 1. Young Adult: 20 healthy RH native English, 18-38 y/o, 12-18 years education 2. Older person: 19 healthy RH native english, 57-70 y/o, 13-22 education 3. Genders split evenly enough

Methods

Two tasks 1. Perception: observation of short video clips showing fem. actress producing words 2. Production: sim. vid observation followed by subject repeating phrases 3. a fMRI used throughout to monitor pp brain activity