Mismatch negativity predicts age-related declines in memory precision
Ricky Chow, Stevenson Baker, Shimin Mo, Jennifer A. Bugos, Claude Alain, R. Shayna Rosenbaum
Abstract
Does precision in auditory perception predict precision in subsequent memory (i.e., mnemonic discrimination) in aging? This study examined if the mismatch negativity (MMN), an electrophysiological marker of change detection and encoding, relates to age differences in mnemonic discrimination. The MMN was recorded in 92 adults (18–86 years, 47 females) in a passive oddball paradigm using tone sequences. Participants then completed a surprise recognition test for presented sequences (i.e., old targets) against novel sequences (i.e., similar lures and dissimilar foils). Across the adult lifespan, MMN amplitudes showed attenuation with increasing age, accompanied by worse performance discriminating targets from lures and foils. Across participants, smaller MMN amplitude predicted worse recognition performance. Notably, MMN amplitude partially explained age-related declines in target-lure discriminability, but not target-foil discriminability. Findings reinforce the MMN as a marker of mnemonic discrimination, and clarify how age-related declines in memory precision at retrieval may be explained by age differences at encoding. • The mismatch negativity (MMN) is a well-studied, early event-related potential • The MMN signals when a change in the environment has occurred • The MMN predicts age-related changes in discriminating similar sounds in memory • Precision in perception and memory informs cognitive decline in aging