Working memory, semantics, and normal aging
Resource
Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition,6(3),179-186.
Journal
Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition
Pages
179-186
Date Issued
1999-01
Date
1999-01
Author(s)
Haut, MW
Chen, SH
Edwards, S.
Abstract
This study examined working memory in normal aging using three different self-ordered pointing tasks. The task stimuli differed in the amount of semantics processing necessary to complete the task: consonant trigrams, unorganizable words, and organizable words. When compared to similarly educated, healthy younger participants, older participants had a shorter working memory span. The older adults did not demonstrate a different pattern of responding across tasks. However, the number of errors, perseverative errors, and the degree to which semantic clustering was utilized, were all effected by the number of stimuli presented for the older adults. Specifically, the older participants made more errors, perseverative errors, and used semantic clustering to a lesser degree than the younger participants on the longest trial regardless of the task.
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