Effect of aging on acquisition and short-term retention of a motor skill.
26 elderly (M = 74.2 yr.) and 26 younger subjects (M = 23.4 yr.) were compared for their ability to learn and retain a novel motor skill (limb repositioning). Both age groups demonstrated significant improvement in performance, but elders gained statistically significantly better than younger subjects. The young group, however, was significantly superior to elders in terms of performance across trials. No significant differences between the age groups were noted on motor short-term retention trials. Elderly subjects did not retain more or less than younger participants.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009048:Motor Skills; D012153:Retention, Psychology