We remember the good things: Age differences in learning and memory

作者：Eppinger Ben^*; Herbert Michael; Kray Jutta

来源：Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2010, 93(4): 515-521.

DOI：10.1016/j.nlm.2010.01.009

• Aging
• Reward
• Learning
• Memory
• Event-related potential (ERP)

We combined a feedback-based learning task with a recognition memory paradigm to investigate how reward-based learning affects the event-related potential (ERP) correlates of recognition memory in younger and older adults. We found that positive, but not negative learning improves memory and results in an increased early ERP old-new effect, which is typically associated with familiarity-based memory. This indicates that reward-based learning supports a fast and relatively automatic memory retrieval process. Furthermore, we found age-related impairments in reward-based learning, whereas memory for the learned information was intact in the elderly, suggesting that declarative memory might be less affected by aging.

• 出版日期2010-5