Neuropsychol Rev
 2014
DOI: 10.1007/s11065-014-9270-9
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How Does it STAC Up? Revisiting the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition

Patricia A. Reuter‐Lorenz
1
,
Denise C. Park
2

Abstract: “The Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC)”, proposed in 2009, is a conceptual model of cognitive aging that integrated evidence from structural and functional neuroimaging to explain how the combined effects of adverse and compensatory neural processes produce varying levels of cognitive function. The model made clear and testable predictions about how different brain variables, both structural and functional, were related to cognitive function, focusing on the core construct of compensatory scaffo… Show more

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Cited by 903 publications

(861 citation statements)
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“…Our findings here support theoretical work in cognitive aging suggesting that age-related neural dedifferentiation, i.e., a reduced neuronal selectivity in aged brain, is a key contributor of cognitive function in older adults (Li et al, 2001 ). In contrast, our results are not consistent with proposals that neural dedifferentiation might serve as a compensatory mechanism (Park and Reuter-Lorenz, 2009 ; Reuter-Lorenz and Park, 2010 ), but see (Reuter-Lorenz and Park, 2014 ). The neural dedifferentiation-related compensation hypotheses, such as the original STAC (the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition) model were inspired by findings from functional neuroimaging studies that often revealed greater activation of prefrontal and parietal regions in older adults (Gutchess et al, 2005 ; Davis et al, 2008 ), as well as an increase in bilateral recruitment (compared to more lateralized activity in younger adults) (Dolcos et al, 2002 ).…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 99%
Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.
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“…Our findings here support theoretical work in cognitive aging suggesting that age-related neural dedifferentiation, i.e., a reduced neuronal selectivity in aged brain, is a key contributor of cognitive function in older adults (Li et al, 2001 ). In contrast, our results are not consistent with proposals that neural dedifferentiation might serve as a compensatory mechanism (Park and Reuter-Lorenz, 2009 ; Reuter-Lorenz and Park, 2010 ), but see (Reuter-Lorenz and Park, 2014 ). The neural dedifferentiation-related compensation hypotheses, such as the original STAC (the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition) model were inspired by findings from functional neuroimaging studies that often revealed greater activation of prefrontal and parietal regions in older adults (Gutchess et al, 2005 ; Davis et al, 2008 ), as well as an increase in bilateral recruitment (compared to more lateralized activity in younger adults) (Dolcos et al, 2002 ).…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 99%
Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.
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“…Frontal regions exhibited a clear quantitative difference: specifically, lateral frontal clusters—where younger adults typically outperform older adults—showed significant negative correlations with IES in older adults, suggesting maladaptive overactivation under high demand (MS–4L). While theories such as STAC-r (Reuter-Lorenz & Park, 2014) and hierarchical models (Badre & Nee, 2018) propose that certain anterior PFC subregions may offer transient compensatory support, our data do not reveal a clear adaptive role for these regions under high cognitive load. The absence of significant positive activation–performance correlations suggests that, when demands exceed capacity, these areas may fail to support performance.…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 96%
Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.
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“…Specifically, the source-based ERSP analysis revealed that older participants showed a more widespread ERSP Stroop effect in the beta2 frequencies, as compared to younger ones, which involved extended portions of bilateral dorsal frontal and parietal cortices without any sign of hemispheric asymmetry. This result is consistent with other studies reporting an age-related overactivation and reduction in hemispheric specialization, or a general dedifferentiation of neural processing (Cabeza, 2002;Goh, 2011;Park and Reuter-Lorenz, 2009;Reuter-Lorenz and Park, 2014).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 93%
Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.
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