Neurological Correlates of Potentially Generative Aging: a Systematic Review

Abstract

Potentially generative aging proposes that civic, social or community participation, intergenerational exchange and the construction of a legacy that lasts over time are dimensions that strengthen development and integrity during adulthood (Sandoval-Obando et al., 2019). This work delves into the identification of the neurological correlates associated with generativity (Erikson, 1950). Articles published in Web of Science, Scopus, and Pubmed databases were reviewed, with no publication date limit, using the PRISMA guidelines. The results showed that, although only 1 study explicitly alludes to the relationship between generative processes and their neurological correlates, another 15 papers suggest their association with attentional processes and processing speed, in addition to certain neuroanatomical implications at the frontal and prefrontal cortical level. Potentially generative aging is discussed as an emerging and scarcely investigated theoretical perspective, reaffirming the need to deepen its study through experimental and multidisciplinary models to contribute to the development of new possibilities for understanding aging in the field of neurosciences.