The effects of aging on location-based and distance-based processes in memory for time.
Retrieving when an event occurred may depend on an estimation of the age of the event (distance-based processes) or on strategic reconstruction processes based on contextual information associated with the event (location-based processes). Young and older participants performed a list discrimination task that has been designed to dissociate the contribution of both types of processes. An adapted Remember/Know/Guess procedure [Can. J. Exp. Psychol. 50 (1996) 114] was developed to evaluate the processes used by the participants to recognize the stimuli and retrieve their list of occurrence. The results showed that aging disrupts location-based processes more than distance-based processes. In addition, a limitation of speed of processing and working-memory capacities was the main predictor of age-related differences on location-based processes, whereas working-memory capacities mediated partly age differences on distance-based processes.
Bastin
Christine
C
Cognitive Psychopathology Unit, University of Liège, Boulevard du Rectorat, B33, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. christine.bastin@ulg.ac.be
Van der Linden
Martial
M
Michel
Anne-Pascale
AP
Friedman
William J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004215:Distance Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*