Place learning, a function of the hippocampus (HPC) in the brain is the ability to make mental maps of environments; it is a critical cognitive function needed to learn new or changed environments. Place learning is often impaired with aging, possibly due to changes in HPC function. Environmental conditions that influence elders’ ability to learn new or changed environments are not known. We hypothesized that salient (prominent and meaningful) and stable cues (unchanging) are particularly important properties for place learning in elder as compared to young women. To test this hypothesis, 20 healthy older (over 65) and 6 younger women were recruited from senior centers, churches, and independent senior living centers. Pre-tests for visual acuity, cognition (MMSE), verbal and spatial working memory were conducted. Place learning was measured by the Computer Generated (CG) Arena, a virtual reality task, which required subjects to use constellations of environmental cues (cognitive mapping) to find a hidden platform in four different environments, which varied with respect to stability and salience of cues. Subjects received 6 learning trials in each environment. Place learning was measured as time to target, directional heading error, the percent of time spent in the target quadrant, and path length to target. Linear mixed model analysis revealed a significant effect of age (F=14.02, p< .001), cue properties (F=6.908, p < .0001) living setting (home versus senior apartment, F=4.674, p < .031), attentional ability (F=2.843, p< .037), and social networks (F=3.891, p < .049) on place learning measures. Subjects learned the best under highly salient and stable cue conditions. In contrast to young, older women did not learn in under nonsalient or unstable cue conditions. We conclude that older women can learn new places. However, learning is slow and depends on high degrees of salience and stability in the environmental surround.
Session #1210 - Elder Issues in the Community
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)