AI Article Synopsis
- Recent research highlights the prefrontal cortex's role in processing humor, suggesting it's affected by normal aging.
- Participants of different age groups were tested on humor comprehension, mentalistic, and nonmentalistic questions, alongside executive tasks.
- The older group struggled more with humor punchlines and mentalistic questions, indicating that aging alters humor processing linked to mentalizing capabilities.
Article Abstract
Recent investigations have emphasized the importance of the prefrontal cortex for humor processing. Although the prefrontal cortex is thought to be affected by normal aging, relatively little work has been carried out to investigate the effects of aging on humor processing. In the present investigation participants in three age groups were assessed on a humor comprehension task. They then answered mentalistic and nonmentalistic questions. Executive tasks were also administered. The older group selected significantly fewer correct punchlines from alternatives than the other groups. They were also poorer at answering mentalistic questions, but did not differ significantly for nonmentalistic questions. The findings of the present investigation showed altered in humor processing in normal aging, and this appeared to be related to mentalizing ability.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355617706060280 | DOI Listing |
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