The effect of age on the number of neurons in the nucleus centralis su
perior (NCS) [6] was determined in 11 behaviorally tested rhesus monke
ys or 7-32 years of age. There was a significant age-related decrease
in both cell packing density and in the total number of neurons. This
decrease in number of neurons appeared to effect two different populat
ions of cell in the NCS, one of which corresponded in size to the sero
tonergic cells in this nucleus and the other to a smaller-sized cell.
Comparisons of the changes in the cell packing density with behavioral
testing, showed significant correlations with the overall test perfor
mance as well as with individual tests of memory function and of execu
tive system functions. These findings suggest that neuronal loss in th
e NCS may play a significant role in mediating cognitive changes seen
in normal aging.