Effects of Working Memory Load on Performance and Cardiovascular Activity in Younger and Older Workers

Schapkin, Sergei A.; Freude, Gabriele; Gajewski, Patrick D.; Wild–Wall, Nele; Falkenstein, Michael

doi:10.1007/s12529-011-9181-6

Cited by 20 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Several other studies have found an increase in SBP in response to cognitive performance in later adulthood (e.g., Boutcher & Stocker, 1996; Carroll et al, 2000; Hogan et al, 2012; Schapkin, Freude, Gajewski, Wild-Wall, & Falkenstein, 2012; Steptoe et al, 2005; Uchino et al, 1999). As noted earlier, a meta-analysis by Uchino et al (2010) also found that age differences in SBP reactivity increased with level of mean reactivity, suggesting that as task demands increase—as reflected in indices of active coping—so do age differences in SBP response.…”

Section: The Assessment Of Effortmentioning

confidence: 89%

Assessment of adult age differences in task engagement: The utility of systolic blood pressure

Hess

Ennis

2014

Motiv Emot

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The constructs of effort and engagement are central to many theoretical frameworks associated with the study of aging. Age differences in the effort associated with effortful cognitive operations have been hypothesized to account for aging effects in ability, and shifting goals and motivation have been hypothesized to be associated with differential levels of engagement across situations in younger and older adults. Unfortunately, the assessment of effort and engagement—constructs that we view as relatively synonymous—has suffered in the field of aging due to the lack of well-validated measures. We suggest that systolic blood pressure might provide an easy and valid means for examining age differences in mental effort, and present evidence in support of its usage. Existing findings clearly support its potential utility, but further empirical and theoretical work is necessary.

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Section: The Assessment Of Effortmentioning

confidence: 89%

Assessment of adult age differences in task engagement: The utility of systolic blood pressure

Hess

Ennis

2014

Motiv Emot

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“…It is probably due to the fact that HR is regulated by both sympathetic and vagal pathways 13) which are highly susceptible to aging 14) . In a previous study we found that HR in the older group was more affected by sympathetic tone while in the younger group HR was associated with vagal influence 15) . Taken together, the results suggest that HR is only to a limited extent reliable to assess age effects on cardiovascular reactivity to WM load.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) reactivity to laboratory stressors is usually greater in older than in younger adults and is thought to be a marker of age-related sympathetic predominance that usually goes along with vagal withdrawal 5) . By contrast, younger people meet task demands by vagal withdrawal only while sympathetic tone (and hence SBP) remains constant during the experiment 15) . One of the most important mechanisms providing the maintenance of adequate BP in the cardiovascular system is the baroreflex 16) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Cardiovascular Costs of Working Memory Performance: Effects of Age and Performance Feedback

Schapkin

Freude

2013

Ind Health

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Ageing is associated with impaired working memory (WM) performance that may increase cardiovascular costs in older workers. Performance feedback (FB) was assumed to compensate for performance decline and reduce cardiovascular costs. Forty-eight younger (29 ± 3 yr) and 45 older (55 ± 4 yr) healthy workers had to perform a 0-back task (low WM load), 2-back task (high WM load) and 2-back task with FB (high WM load & FB). Age-related performance decline and enhanced blood pressure (BP) reactivity to WM load were found. The baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) decreased under high WM load in older workers compared to younger workers. The FB abolished age differences in omission rate and increased low frequency heart rate variability (HRV) in both age groups. Moreover, FB reduced heart rate in older workers and increased BRS as well as high frequency HRV in younger workers. The results suggest that older workers compensate for WM performance decline at cost of heightened BP due to age-related reductions of vagal tone and impairments of the baroreflex mechanism. The performance FB helps older workers to partly compensate for performance deficits and reduce cardiovascular costs by moderate decreases in sympathetic tone.

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“…The process of natural aging is accompanied with a decrease in adaptive capacity, morphological and functional changes in major body's systems, that leads to cumulating decrease in general and occupational ability to work, mental and physical performance [26]. It causes limitations to perform certain occupational duties, or a significant increase in physiological cost of the work performed, and accordingly to disruption of adaptabilities and development of pathological conditions [29]. As a result, in the professions related to the need for rapid response, high coordination of movements, performing higher physical activities, the proportion of people in older age groups is lower.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupation and pathology of the cardiovascular system: factors that modify the causal relations in epidemiological studies

Максимов¹,

Артамонова²

2016

Health Risk Analysis

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In scientific terms, the protection of workers' health is based on evidence of causal links between occupational factors and the onset of illness (or fatal caseInternational healthcare system since 1990-s is actively introducing evidence-based approaches, with decisions on using preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic measures taken based on the available evidence of their effectiveness and safety on the background of search, comparison, generalization and distribution for the benefit of patients [31]. And occupational medicine, the evidence principle thereof is to cover all the aspects in scientific and clinical process: prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, is not an exception [1].In scientific terms, protection of employed population health is based on the evidence of causal links between occupational factors and onset of illness (or fatality). After all, in order to prevent occupational factors __________________________ Ó Maksimov S.A., Artamonova

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Effects of Working Memory Load on Performance and Cardiovascular Activity in Younger and Older Workers

Abstract: The data suggest that older workers as compared with younger ones are impaired in tasks requiring WM, which is accompanied by enhanced cardiovascular "costs" in terms of increased SBP and reduced vagal control over HR.

Cited by 20 publications

References 37 publications

Assessment of adult age differences in task engagement: The utility of systolic blood pressure

Assessment of adult age differences in task engagement: The utility of systolic blood pressure

Cardiovascular Costs of Working Memory Performance: Effects of Age and Performance Feedback

Occupation and pathology of the cardiovascular system: factors that modify the causal relations in epidemiological studies

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