ABSTRACT
This chapter approaches working memory functioning in old age from the more general perspective of individual differences in brain aging. It starts by summarizing general adult age trends in functional brain activation in relation to working memory. The substantial heterogeneity in working memory aging and related functional brain activation was the dominant theme of this chapter. It provides the important examples about how an individual difference approach in research on working memory aging can help deepen the understanding of working memory aging. The chapter describes common findings on age-related differences in functional brain activation during working memory. It reports the two studies, quasi-experimental design to take a closer look at individual differences in working memory. A high degree of heterogeneity noted among older individuals, with the older adults performing at high levels showing youth-like activation patterns.
