Aging is associated with cognitive decline, specifically in episodic memory. However, there are large individual differences in the extent of this decline and previous research suggests that these are associated with differences in executive functioning (EF). These EF differences, and associated differences in the encoding and retrieval of episodic information, have been linked to differences in the activation of particular brain regions. The "encoding/retrieval flip" (E/R flip) framework assumes deactivation and activation of specific brain regions during successful encoding and retrieval, respectively. The present study assessed whether this framework can be used to explain EF-based individual differences in memory performance of young and older participants. Young adults (N=19) and older adults (N=39) performed an incidental semantic encoding and memory recognition task in an fMRI setting, focusing on brain regions that show the E/R flip. The association between an index of EF and fMRI activity in brain regions showing the E/R flip was tested in each age group. EF predicted E/R flip activity in the older, but not young adults. These findings underscore the importance of individual differences in ageing research and provide empirical evidence for the association between EF and the E/R flip.

中文翻译：

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年轻人和老年人记忆性能个体差异的神经基础：以编码/检索翻转帐户为框架。

衰老与认知能力下降有关，尤其是在情节记忆中。但是，这种下降的程度存在很大的个体差异，以前的研究表明，这些差异与执行功能（EF）的差异有关。这些EF差异以及情景信息编码和检索中的相关差异已与特定大脑区域的激活差异相关。“编码/检索翻转”（E / R翻转）框架分别假设在成功编码和检索过程中特定大脑区域的去激活和激活。本研究评估了该框架是否可用于解释基于EF的个体在年轻和老年参与者的记忆表现上的个体差异。年轻人（N = 19）和老年人（N = 39）在fMRI设置中执行了偶然的语义编码和记忆识别任务，重点是显示E / R翻转的大脑区域。在每个年龄组中，对显示E / R翻转的大脑区域中EF指数与fMRI活性之间的关联进行了测试。EF预测年龄较大的成年人有E​​ / R翻转活动，但年轻人没有。这些发现强调了衰老研究中个体差异的重要性，并为EF和E / R翻转之间的关联提供了经验证据。