Are There Differences in EEG Metrics Between Younger and Older Healthy Adult When Performing Challenging Cognitive Tasks?

The prevalence and cost of dementia continues to rise, with the cost of treatment in the U.S. estimated at $157 billion per year (Hurd et al., 2013). Understanding cognitive function in older adults and associated brain activity could lead to the development of better prevention and treatment of dementia. Therefore, this study examined the effects of aging on brain activity, as measured by electroencephalography (EEG) in younger and older adults. EEG activity was monitored before, during, and after healthy older (70-79 years of age; N = 20) and younger adults (20-29 years of age; N = 16) completed three computerized cognitive tasks. A one way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison, p \u3c 0.05, was completed to determine age effects on cognitive performance and EEG metrics. As hypothesized, younger adults performed significantly better on reasoning (Raven’s Matrices), short term memory, and inhibitory control (Stroop) tasks. The most significant age difference in the EEG metrics were higher beta amplitude, power, and relative power in older adults, a finding that is suggestive of increased anxiety. As hypothesized, the older adults exhibited lower eyes-closed theta power. However, lower eyes-open alpha amplitude and relative power in older adults was contrary to expectations. In conclusion, these otherwise healthy older adults exhibited declines in cognitive performance and suboptimal brain activity. More research is needed to determine if physical activity, meditation, or cognitive training can improve cognitive performance and brain activity

Marital Satisfaction: The Role of Post-Formal Thought and Partner Blame

Post-formal thought, a recently identified fifth stage of developmental cognition, is a type of complex cognition initially present in emerging adulthood. It is more practical, flexible and dialectical than previous stages of cognition. Research has suggested the benefits of enhanced post-formal thought in intrapersonal functioning, as well as interpersonal functioning. In interpersonal functioning, social relationships provide an opportunity to think using post-formal cognition because two people often share different “truths” in a relationship which creates logical conflict that must be resolved to continue the relationship (Griffin et al, 2009). Using this framework, the current study aimed to further examine the complex cognition of post-formal thought in the context of romantic relationships, while specifically looking at the association between post-formal thought and marital satisfaction as impacted by the social behavior of blame projection. It was hypothesized that those who have enhanced post-formal thought project less blame onto their romantic partner, and thus have increased relationship satisfaction. A sample of 109 married individuals (43 men, 66 women) was recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants completed four self-reports surveys online. The findings supported past research that suggests blame towards one’s partner is negatively correlated to marital satisfaction (p\u3c .03). However contrary to the hypothesis, post-formal thought was positively correlated with greater extent of partner blame, rather than negatively correlated (p\u3c .01). The current study adds to the body of literature which has asserted that the more one blames their partner with negative attributions styles for events that take place within the relationship, the more dissatisfied one is with their relationship. This finding is especially relevant for clinical work in relationship counseling. Examining these interaction of post-formal thought can provide new information concerning the implications of this recently identified type of complex cognition