Emotionen und Altern

Subtitle: Emotions and Aging

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Glinka, Katja | Godde, Ben

Affiliations: Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, D-28759 Bremen. E-mail: k.glinka@jacobs-university.de

Abstract: In contrast to cognitive functioning emotion processing is regarded as relatively stable over the lifespan. Several studies, however, show differences in processing emotions between older and younger adults – on a behavioral as well as a neural level. These differences are usually explained in terms of learning and an altered motivation whereas biological aging is not seen as playing a role. At the behavioral level a positivity effect is reported which refers to an enhanced processing of positive stimuli as well as a reduced processing of negative stimuli in older adults. At the neural level a reduced amygdala activity as well as an increased frontal cortex activity is reported. These neural alterations are usually interpreted as a motivational top-down process. New findings from our working group suggest, however, that brain aging processes are also related to the found age-related alterations in emotion processing.

Keywords: Emotions, aging, brain aging

DOI: 10.3233/ZMP-2011-2030

Journal: Zeitschrift für Medizinische Psychologie, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 159-169, 2011