fMRI evidence of age-related hippocampal dysfunction in feature binding inworking memory

Richly detailed memories for particular events depend on processes that bin d individual features of experience together. Previous cognitive behavioral research indicates that older adults have more difficulty than young adult s in conditions requiring feature binding. We used functional magnetic reso nance imaging (fMRI) during a working memory task to identify neural substr ates of this age-related deficit in feature binding. For young, but not old er, adults there was greater activation in left anterior hippocampus on com bination trials (remember objects together with their locations) than on tr ials in which participants were told to remember only which objects or only which locations occurred. The results provide neuroimaging evidence for an age-related hippocampal dysfunction in feature binding in working memory. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.