Slow wave activity disruptions lead to memory disturbances in older adults.

Older mice show impairments in working memory, but not memory consolidation.

Older mice showed abnormal synchronization of neuronal activity across the cortex.

Older mice exhibited aberrant activity of inhibitory neurons within the circuit.

The neural activity disruptions may be related to memory impairments in Older mice.

The aging population suffers from memory impairments. Slow-wave activity (SWA) is composed of slow (0.5–1 Hz) and delta (1–4 Hz) oscillations, which play important roles in long-term memory and working memory function respectively. SWA disruptions might lead to memory disturbances often experienced by older adults. We conducted behavioral tests in young and older C57BL/6 J mice. SWA was monitored using wide-field imaging with voltage sensors. Cell-specific calcium imaging was used to monitor the activity of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in these mice. Older mice exhibited impairments in working memory but not memory consolidation. Voltage-sensor imaging revealed aberrant synchronization of neuronal activity in older mice. Notably, we found older mice exhibited no significant alterations in slow oscillations, whereas there was a significant increase in delta power compared to young mice. Calcium imaging revealed hypoactivity in inhibitory neurons of older mice. Combined, these results suggest that neural activity disruptions might correlate with aberrant memory performance in older mice.

power spectral density

voltage-sensitive dyes

phosphate buffered saline

spontaneous alternation

excitatory-to-inhibitory

Aging

Memory impairments

Slow-wave activity

Voltage-sensor imaging

GCaMP6s

Neural activity

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.