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Age differences in gain- and loss-motivated attention

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posted on 2023-06-09, 04:49 authored by Ryan S Williams, Anna Lena Biel, Benjamin Dyson, Julia Spaniol
Adaptive 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 Cognition

ISSN

0278-2626

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

111

Page range

171-181

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-01-20

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-12-29

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-01-20

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