Ageing and Visual Working Memory: Cognitive and Neural Perspectives

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Cognitive, Social and Affective Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Interests: visual short-term memory; inter-hemispheric communication; visual cognition; ageing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the global population ageing at an unprecedented rate, understanding how cognitive functions change across the lifespan has become a major scientific and societal priority. Among these functions, visual working memory (VWM) is especially important. Acting as a kind of mental sketchpad, VWM enables individuals to temporarily retain and manipulate visual information to support everyday tasks, from navigating complex environments to maintaining social interactions and making decisions. However, VWM is known to be particularly susceptible to age-related decline, with older adults often showing marked reductions in capacity, precision, and attentional control. Despite a growing body of research, the specific cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie this decline remain only partially understood.

This Special Issue of Brain Sciences invites empirical and theoretical contributions that advance our understanding of the effects of ageing on VWM. We welcome submissions from cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and related fields. Topics may include—but are not limited to—identifying the mechanisms of VWM decline, mapping their temporal progression, evaluating compensatory strategies or training interventions, and integrating behavioural and neural data. Our goal is to foster a more comprehensive account of age-related changes in VWM that can inform cognitive theory, clinical assessment, and the development of targeted interventions.

Dr. Jean-Francois Delvenne
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • ageing
  • memory
  • cognitive/physical health
  • quality of life
  • cognition
  • prevention
  • cognitive decline

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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