Openness to experience is associated with neural and performance measures of memory in older adults

Stolz, Christopher; Bulla, Ariane; Soch, Joram; Schott, Björn H.; Richter, Anni · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.30.514257

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Summary

This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying the established association between the personality trait Openness to Experience and episodic memory performance in older adults. While prior research indicates that high Openness correlates with better memory retention in aging populations, the specific brain processes mediating this relationship remain unclear. The authors hypothesized that Openness serves as a protective factor by preserving the functional integrity of the memory network, specifically through maintained activation patterns similar to those of young adults. The researchers analyzed data from 352 healthy participants, comprising 209 young adults (18–35 years) and 143 older adults (50–80 years). Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing an incidental visual memory encoding task involving indoor and outdoor scenes. Memory performance was assessed via a surprise recognition test, quantified using the A-prime (A′) metric. Openness was measured using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. To quantify neural network integrity, the study employed single-value scores: the Similarity of Activations during Memory Encoding (SAME) score, which measures similarity to prototypical young adult activation patterns, and the Functional Activity Deviation (FADE) score, which measures deviation from these patterns. Statistical analyses included multiple regressions controlling for age, gender, education, and crystallized intelligence, as well as mediation models to test if neural activity linked Openness to memory performance. Results confirmed that older adults exhibited significantly lower memory performance (A′) and greater deviation from prototypical neural patterns (lower SAME scores) compared to young adults. Crucially, within the older adult group, higher Openness scores were positively correlated with better memory performance and higher SAME scores, indicating more preserved memory network activity. Mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between Openness and memory performance was partially mediated by SAME scores, suggesting that the neural preservation associated with Openness contributes to better cognitive outcomes. Exploratory voxel-wise regressions further identified specific brain regions where Openness correlated with subsequent memory effects. The findings suggest that trait Openness acts as a protective factor against age-related cognitive decline by supporting the maintenance of functional memory network integrity. This study provides evidence that personality traits may influence cognitive aging through specific neural mechanisms, highlighting the potential role of Openness in preserving episodic memory function in older adults.

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• personality driving