Specific- and partial-source memory: effects of aging.
Normal aging can be associated with impairments in source memory (recollecting an event's context). This study examined the effects of aging on specific-source memory (e.g., remembering which of 4 people spoke a word) and partial-source memory (e.g., remembering the gender of the person who spoke the word). When young and older adults were matched in terms of old-new recognition, age-related deficits were observed on both specific- and partial-source recollection. When the groups were matched on partial-source performance, no disproportionate specific-source impairment was seen. The results suggest that aging does not differentially affect specific- versus partial-source memory.
Simons
Jon S
JS
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. jon.simons@ucl.ac.uk
Dodson
Chad S
CS
Bell
Deborah
D
Schacter
Daniel L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001245:Association Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011932:Reading; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D013067:Speech Perception