Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00450

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Altered theta distribution and coherence during set-shifting in older age.

Darna, M. ; Richter, A. ; Hopf, J.-M. ; Seidenbecher, C. I. ; Schott, B. H. (Last author)DZNE*

2026
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.04.001

Abstract: Cognitive flexibility is an executive function that enables adapting behaviour to a changing environment and is thus critical for daily life. The degree of its preservation upon healthy aging and the neural mechanisms underlying it are still a matter of debate. To investigate the electrophysiological correlates of cognitive flexibility in older age, we measured cognitive flexibility in 99 young (24.75 ± 4.45 years) and 83 older adults (69.19 ± 6.25) using electroencephalography (EEG). Compared to young adults, older adults showed a more conservative response pattern with longer reaction times, but lower error rates (speed-accuracy tradeoff). In the EEG, both age groups exhibited increased theta-power during set-shifting, with a fronto-central peak in the young, but a more fronto-lateral topography in older adults. Importantly, both groups displayed increases in theta coherence and global efficiency during set-shifting. Coherence modulations were restricted in frontocentral areas in the young but were diminished and distributed across the scalp in the older. Better set-shifting performance was most strongly associated with higher coherence in older adults and with global efficiency in both age groups. These results point to age-related differences in cortical processing underlying cognitive flexibility, which involve the employment of more distributed neural resources for successful task completion.

Keyword(s): Aging ; Cognitive flexibility ; Coherence ; EEG ; Set-shifting ; Theta oscillations

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases (AG Fischer)

Research Program(s):

1. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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