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Auditory comprehension and aging: Decline in syntactic processing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Loraine K. Obler ,
Deborah Fein ,
Marjorie Nicholas  and
Martin L. Albert
Loraine K. Obler*
Affiliation:
City University of New York Graduate School, Emerson College
Deborah Fein
Affiliation:
Boston University School of Medicine
Marjorie Nicholas
Affiliation:
Boston University School of Medicine
Martin L. Albert
Affiliation:
Boston University School of Medicine
*
Loraine K. Obler, The Graduate School & University Center of CUNY, PhD Program in Speech & Hearing Sciences, 33 West 42nd Street, Box 365, New York, NY 10036-8099
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Abstract

Comprehension of six syntactic structures was tested across four age groups. Each structure was presented with both plausible and implausible content. The contribution of cognitive nonlinguistic factors important for comprehension (attention, short-term memory, and mental control) was tested via standard neuropsychological tasks. Sixty-six women aged 30–79 were tested. Both errors and reaction times increased with age, especially for more complex syntactic types and implausible sentences. The neuropsychological factors tested contributed minimally to an age-related decline in comprehension, suggesting that the subtle breakdown seen in syntactic processing may be a language-specific impairment.

Type
Articles
Information
Applied Psycholinguistics , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , December 1991 , pp. 433 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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