Differential age effects in semantic and episodic memory.
Results from 4 experimental tasks and 8 data sets (the 4 tasks involved either multiple sessions or different stimuli) as well as a vocabulary test conducted on the same 80 participants (40 younger and 40 older adults) are reported. The authors employed 2 semantic memory tasks (lexical decision and multiplication verification) using data from 2 sessions (for a total of 4 semantic data sets) and 2 episodic memory tasks (hybrid visual search and memory search with digits and with words as stimuli). Factor analyses using slope and intercept data from the 8 experimental data sets indicated the presence of 3 latent factors: a single intercept factor for both episodic and semantic tasks and separate slope factors for episodic and semantic tasks. A structural equation model with paths from age to 3 different 1st-order latent factors (episodic central processes, semantic central processes, and combined episodic and semantic peripheral processes) fit better than general factor models. These data are consistent with a theoretical framework in which there are age-related dissociations between peripheral and central processes across semantic and episodic memory.
Allen
Philip A
PA
The University of Akron, Ohio 44325-4301, USA. paallen@uakron.edu
Sliwinski
Martin
M
Bowie
Tanara
T
Madden
David J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014825:Vocabulary