Abstract：
The study aimed to develop and validate a gamified cognitive flexibility task through brain imaging, and to investigate behavioral and brain activation differences between young and older adults during task performance. Thirty-one young adults (aged 18-35) and 31 older adults (aged 60-80) were included in the present study. All participants underwent fMRI scans while completing the gamified cognitive flexibility task. Results showed that young adults outperformed older adults on the task. The left inferior frontal junction (IFJ), a key region of cognitive flexibility, was significantly activated during the task in both older and young adults. Comparatively, the percent signal change in the left IFJ was stronger in older adults than in young adults. Moreover, older adults demonstrated more precise representations during the task in the left IFJ. Additionally, the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and superior parietal lobule in older adults and the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and inferior frontal gyrus in young adults were also activated during the task. Psychophysiological interaction analyses showed significant functional connectivity between the left IFJ and the left IPL, as well as the right precuneus in older adults. In young adults, significant functional connectivity was found between the left IFJ and the left MFG, as well as the right angular. The current study provides preliminary evidence for the validity of the gamified cognitive flexibility task through brain imaging. The findings suggest that this task could serve as a reliable tool for assessing cognitive flexibility and for exploring age-related differences of cognitive flexibility in both brain and behavior.
摘要：
该研究旨在通过大脑成像开发和验证游戏化的认知灵活性任务，并调查年轻人和老年人在任务执行期间的行为和大脑激活差异。本研究包括31名年轻人（18-35岁）和31名老年人（60-80岁）。所有参与者在完成游戏化认知灵活性任务时都接受了fMRI扫描。结果显示，年轻人在这项任务上的表现优于老年人。左额下交界处(IFJ),认知灵活性的关键区域，在任务期间，老年人和年轻人都被显著激活。相对而言,老年人左侧IFJ的信号变化百分比强于年轻人。此外，老年人在左IFJ任务期间表现出更精确的表征。此外,在任务期间，老年人的左下顶叶小叶（IPL）和上顶叶小叶以及年轻人的左额中回（MFG）和下额回也被激活。心理生理相互作用分析显示，左IFJ和左IPL之间存在显著的功能连接，以及老年人的右前叶。在年轻人中,在左IFJ和左MFG之间发现了显着的功能连接，以及正确的角度。当前的研究通过脑成像为游戏化认知灵活性任务的有效性提供了初步证据。研究结果表明，这项任务可以作为评估认知灵活性和探索大脑和行为中与年龄相关的认知灵活性差异的可靠工具。
