Document Detail


Age-related affective modulation of the startle eyeblink response: older adults startle most when viewing positive pictures.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21463060     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Previous studies reveal age by valence interactions in attention and memory, such that older adults focus relatively more on positive and relatively less on negative stimuli than younger adults. In the current study, eyeblink startle response was used to measure differences in emotional reactivity to images that were equally arousing to both age groups. Viewing positive and negative pictures from the International Affective Picture System had opposite effects on startle modulation for older and younger adults. Younger adults showed the typical startle blink pattern, with potentiated startle when viewing negative pictures compared to positive pictures. Older adults, on the other hand, showed the opposite pattern, with potentiated startle when viewing positive pictures compared to viewing negative and neutral pictures. Potential underlying mechanisms for this interaction are evaluated. This pattern suggests that, compared with younger adults, older adults are more likely to spontaneously suppress responses to negative stimuli and process positive stimuli more deeply.
Authors:
Michelle C Feng; Christopher G Courtney; Mara Mather; Michael E Dawson; Gerald C Davison
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychology and aging     Volume:  26     ISSN:  1939-1498     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychol Aging     Publication Date:  2011 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-09-07     Completed Date:  2012-01-13     Revised Date:  2013-02-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8904079     Medline TA:  Psychol Aging     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  752-60     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. michelcf@usc.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Affect
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arousal
Blinking*
Emotions
Humans
Male
Mental Recall
Photic Stimulation
Psychological Tests
Startle Reaction*
Young Adult
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
K02 AG032309/AG/NIA NIH HHS; K02 AG032309-02/AG/NIA NIH HHS; K02 AG032309-04/AG/NIA NIH HHS; K02AG032309/AG/NIA NIH HHS; R01 AG025340/AG/NIA NIH HHS; R01 AG038043-01/AG/NIA NIH HHS; R01AG025340/AG/NIA NIH HHS; R01AG038043/AG/NIA NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections

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