The Aging Brain

The aging brain

Aging is a complex process of change and a good demonstration of the brain’s resilience. Even though cells in all regions of the nervous system are affected by aging, older adults are typically able to function very well in daily life. The key to understanding this resilience is in the study of brain function. Our research is focused on using and developing innovative measures to increase our understanding of brain function and of how it gives rise to our experiences and behavior over the lifespan. This approach moves beyond simply focusing on brain areas that are active in a particular task condition, by looking at how different brain regions are communicating to achieve a particular goal and how this communication is modulated by changes in the internal or external environment.