Cognitive Reserve as a Psychological and Psychophysiological Resource in Aging

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Abstract

Cognitive aging, just like biological aging, is a heterogeneous and highly individual process. As a result of this process, even people having physiological brain damage associated with Alzheimer disease (revealed through post-mortal studies) can demonstrate no impairment in cognitive functioning. Th e present paper is a review of modern studies of cognitive reserve phenomenon. In the paper main components of cognitive reserve proposed by Ya. Stern are refl ected, as well as factors and possible empirical approaches to investigation of cognitive reserve. Among the factors education, bilinguism, noradrenaline functioning and emotional processes are mentioned. Psychological and psychophysiological methods of cognitive reserve investigation are described. In particular, attention is paid to the model of cognitive reserve proposed by M. Nucci and the opportunities of cognitive reserve investigation using PET. As a conclusion, the possibility of application of this concept in Russian studies and possible specifi cs of such studies is discussed.

General Information

Keywords: cognitive reserve, aging, aging factors, cognitive functions, emotional processes

Journal rubric: Developmental Psychology

Article type: scientific article

For citation: Strizhitskaya O.Y. Cognitive Reserve as a Psychological and Psychophysiological Resource in Aging. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Psychology, 2016. no. 2, pp. 79–87. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

Strizhitskaya O. [Modern problems of aging psychology]. Zdorovaia lichnost' [A healthy person]. Ed. by G. Nikiforov. St. Petersburg, Rech' Publ., 2013, pp. 336–355. (In Russian)

Information About the Authors

Olga Y. Strizhitskaya, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Head of the Department of Developmental Psychology and Differential Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Saint-Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7141-162X, e-mail: o.strizhitskaya@spbu.ru

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