Question

Findings from PET and fMRI scans show that compared with younger adults, older adults _____.

A) are more likely to rely on the right hemisphere of the brain
B) experience greater decline in right hemisphere functioning rather than in left hemisphere functioning
C) use more parts of their brains, including both hemispheres, to solve problems
D) are less intellectually sharp but faster at information-processing tasks

Answer 1

Older adults use more parts of their brains, including both hemispheres, to solve problems, which reflects a compensatory mechanism in response to age-related neurodegeneration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Findings from PET and fMRI scans show that compared with younger adults, older adults use more parts of their brains, including both hemispheres, to solve problems. This phenomenon can be related to the concept of neural compensation, where the aging brain recruits additional regions to perform tasks that were previously managed with more focused brain activity. Research has indicated that there are changes in lateralization with aging, with older adults displaying less lateralized neural responses during cognitive tasks, meaning that they engage both hemispheres rather than relying predominantly on one.

For example, the left hemisphere is involved with forming associations in memory and the right hemisphere with perception and arousal. However, when there is neurodegeneration due to aging, or in response to damage, the brain adapts by using more extensive neural networks spanning both hemispheres to maintain cognitive functions.