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Working memory and aging: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis using a self-ordered pointing task

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2004

NAOMI CHAYTOR  and
MAUREEN SCHMITTER-EDGECOMBE
NAOMI CHAYTOR
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman
MAUREEN SCHMITTER-EDGECOMBE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman
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Abstract

Age-related declines in working memory performance have been associated with deficits in inhibition, strategy use, processing speed, and monitoring. In the current study, cross-sectional and longitudinal methodologies were used to investigate the relative contribution of these components to age-related changes in working memory. In Experiment 1, a sample of 140 younger and 140 older adults completed an abstract design version of the Self-Ordered Pointing Task modeled after Shimamura and Jurica (1994). Experiment 1 revealed that only processing speed and monitoring explained age differences in SOPT performance. Participants in Experiment 2 were 53 older adults who returned 4 years after the initial testing and 53 young adults. A task that assessed the ability to generate and monitor an internal series of responses as compared to an externally imposed series of responses was also administered. Experiment 2 replicated the key findings from Experiment 1 and provided some further evidence for age-related internal monitoring difficulties. Furthermore, the exploratory longitudinal analysis revealed that older age and lower intellectual abilities tended to be associated with poorer performance on the SOPT at Time 2. (JINS, 2004, 10, 489–503.)

Keywords

AgingWorking memorySelf-Ordered Pointing TestInhibitionProcessing speedMonitoringStrategy use
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , July 2004 , pp. 489 - 503
Copyright
2004 The International Neuropsychological Society

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