Prestimulus subsequent memory effects (SMEs)—differences in neural activity preceding the onset of study items that are predictive of later memory performance—have consistently been reported in young adults. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment investigated potential age-related differences in prestimulus SMEs. During study, healthy young and older participants made one of two semantic judgments on images, with the judgment signaled by a preceding cue. In test phase, participants first made an item recognition judgment and, for each item judged old, a source memory judgment. Age-invariant prestimulus SMEs were observed in left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, left hippocampus, and right subgenual cortex. In each case, the effects reflected lower blood oxygen level dependent signal for later recognized items, regardless of source accuracy, than for unrecognized items. A similar age-invariant pattern was observed in left orbitofrontal cortex, but this effect was specific to items attracting a correct source response compared to unrecognized items. In contrast, the left angular gyrus and fusiform cortex demonstrated negative prestimulus SMEs that were exclusive to young participants. The findings indicate that age differences in prestimulus SMEs are regionally specific and suggest that prestimulus SMEs reflect multiple cognitive processes, only some of which are vulnerable to advancing age.

中文翻译：

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年龄对成功记忆编码的刺激前神经活动预测的影响：fMRI 研究。

刺激前的后续记忆效应 (SME)——在研究项目开始之前的神经活动差异，可预测后来的记忆表现——在年轻人中一直有报道。目前的功能性磁共振成像实验研究了刺激前 SME 中潜在的与年龄相关的差异。在研究过程中，健康的年轻和年长参与者对图像做出两种语义判断之一，判断是由前面的线索发出的。在测试阶段，参与者首先进行项目识别判断，​​并对每个判断为旧的项目进行源记忆判断。在左背内侧前额叶皮层、左海马和右膝下皮层中观察到年龄不变的刺激前 SME。在每种情况下，效果都反映了后来识别项目的较低血氧水平依赖性信号，无论来源准确性如何，都比无法识别的项目。在左眶额皮质中观察到类似的年龄不变模式，但与无法识别的项目相比，这种效应特定于吸引正确源响应的项目​​。相比之下，左角回和梭状皮层表现出负刺激前 SME，这是年轻参与者独有的。研究结果表明，刺激前 SME 的年龄差异具有区域特异性，并表明刺激前 SME 反映了多种认知过程，其中只有一些容易受到年龄增长的影响。左角回和梭状皮质表现出负性刺激前 SME，这是年轻参与者独有的。研究结果表明，刺激前 SME 的年龄差异具有区域特异性，并表明刺激前 SME 反映了多种认知过程，其中只有一些容易受到年龄增长的影响。左角回和梭状皮质表现出负性刺激前 SME，这是年轻参与者独有的。研究结果表明，刺激前 SME 的年龄差异具有区域特异性，并表明刺激前 SME 反映了多种认知过程，其中只有一些容易受到年龄增长的影响。