Reduced activation of midline frontal areas in human elderly subjects: a contingent negative variation study

Contingent negative variation (CNV) was recorded from electrodes F7, F3, Fz , F4, F8, T7, C3, Ct, C4, T8, P7, P3, Pt, P4 and P8 in 19 young (mean age: 23 years) and 15 elderly (mean age: 66 years) healthy right-handed subjects , using a S2-choice paradigm. Young subjects showed early peak negativity s hortly after the warning stimulus over mid-frontal areas, whereas for the r emaining electrodes the negativity increased continuously. The amplitude of the early CNV was selectively reduced in elderly subjects over midline but not lateral frontal areas. We conclude that the activation of frontal midl ine areas as pre-supplementary motor area or anterior cingulate might be im paired in higher age. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights res erved.