Do you have a young brain or an older brain - never the 'twain' shall meet.
December 17th 2008 20:00
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If you are young or old, there is no problem but if you're in between I guess you are about to cross the great divide or have already crossed it.
It's all to do with the emotions, modern research tells us.
Apparently, older brains have a better filtration system for excluding those negative emotions which can be so upsetting in our day to day functioning.
From USA to-day
By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY
Brain scans suggest that older people are much better than the young at screening out life's negative experiences, giving them a rosier outlook, according to a study out today.
The new report adds to growing evidence against the "grumpy old man" stereotype. "It's just the opposite," says neuroscientist Roberto Cabeza of Duke University. "People tend to be more contented as they get older."
Brain scans suggest that older people are much better than the young at screening out life's negative experiences, giving them a rosier outlook, according to a study out today.
The new report adds to growing evidence against the "grumpy old man" stereotype. "It's just the opposite," says neuroscientist Roberto Cabeza of Duke University. "People tend to be more contented as they get older."
It's rather nice to know that as we get older we have something to look forward to.
People in their 20's and 70's were shown neutral images, not pulling on the emotions.
The older people remembered just as many as their young counterparts, SURPRISE?
But when it came to 'unpleasant' photos, the older remembered fewer than the younger.
All of this was achieved by use of MRI scans with which, hopefully, we are all familiar.
When I have the time I'll try to do a post on this for those who aren't or for those who would like to know some more.
The brain scans showed that young adults have stronger connections between the emotional and memory-storing parts of the brain as they viewed the negative photos; emotion promotes better memory, Cabeza says.
When the elderly viewed the unpleasant images, they had a much stronger link between the emotional part of the brain and the frontal cortex, which does more abstract thinking. It's as though their brains dilute the emotional punch of an unpleasant view, which makes it less likely to be remembered, Cabeza says. "There's a difference in how older adults process emotions. They may be suppressing negative emotions to maintain emotional well-being," he suggests.
When the elderly viewed the unpleasant images, they had a much stronger link between the emotional part of the brain and the frontal cortex, which does more abstract thinking. It's as though their brains dilute the emotional punch of an unpleasant view, which makes it less likely to be remembered, Cabeza says. "There's a difference in how older adults process emotions. They may be suppressing negative emotions to maintain emotional well-being," he suggests.
I have always been of the opinion that a great divide exists between the young and the older and maybe this is just one explanation of how this comes about.
It is all very interesting and it's good for your mind to take it all in and think about your brain and its function.
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Comment by Wilson Pon
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Well, for this question, I think Shania Twain will have the answer, as she also got "Twain" in her name, Katyzzz LOL (Just kidding!)
WoW, this is an amazing discovery and I must tell my parents about this fact. Thanks for the news, Katyzzz!
Comment by katyzzz
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