Emotionen und Altern

In contrast to cognitive functioning emotion processing is regarded as relatively stable over the lifespan. Several studies, however, show differences in processing emotions between older and younger adults – on a behavioral as well as a neural level. These differences are usually explained in terms of learning and an altered motivation whereas biological aging is not seen as playing a role.

At the behavioral level a positivity effect is reported which refers to an enhanced processing of positive stimuli as well as a reduced processing of negative stimuli in older adults. At the neural level a reduced amygdala activity as well as an increased frontal cortex activity is reported. These neural alterations are usually interpreted as a motivational top-down process. New findings from our working group suggest, however, that brain aging processes are also related to the found age-related alterations in emotion processing.