Age-Related Increase in Locus Coeruleus Activity and Connectivity to PFC during Ambiguity Processing

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 

Interpreting facial expressions can be complex, especially when signals are ambiguous, such as a smile paired with furrowed brows. For older adults, age-related cognitive decline amplifies these difficulties, affecting emotional processing and mental well-being (Dexter & Ossmy, 2023). The locus coeruleus (LC), a vital brainstem structure, regulates attention, arousal, memory, and stress (Poe et al., 2020). Its connections to the prefrontal cortex, particularly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), help resolve ambiguity (Grueschow et al., 2020) and support mental well-being (Morris et al., 2020). Despite these insights, the role of LC activity and LC-prefrontal connectivity in processing emotional ambiguity remains unclear. This study investigates age-related differences in LC activity and LC-prefrontal connectivity during emotional ambiguity processing, along with its link to mental well-being in healthy aging.