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Age differences in gain- and loss-motivated attention
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 04:49 authored by Ryan S Williams, Anna Lena Biel, Benjamin Dyson, Julia SpaniolAdaptive gain theory (Aston-Jones & Cohen, 2005) suggests that the phasic release of norepinephrine (NE) to cortical areas reflects changes in the utility of ongoing tasks. In the context of aging, this theory raises interesting questions, given that the motivations of older adults differ from those of younger adults. According to socioemotional selectivity theory (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999), aging is associated with greater emphasis on emotion-regulation goals, leading older adults to prioritize positive over negative information. This suggests that the phasic release of NE in response to threatening stimuli may be diminished in older adults. In the present study, younger adults (aged 18–34 years) and older adults (60–82 years) completed the Attention Network Test (ANT), modified to include an incentive manipulation. A behavioral index of attentional alerting served as a marker of phasic arousal. For younger adults, this marker correlated with the effect of both gain and loss incentives on performance. For older adults, in contrast, the correlation between phasic arousal and incentive sensitivity held for gain incentives only. These findings suggest that the enlistment of phasic NE activity may be specific to approach-oriented motivation in older adults.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Brain and CognitionISSN
0278-2626Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
111Page range
171-181Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-01-20First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-12-29First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-01-20Usage metrics
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