Aging and verbal memory span: a meta-analysis.
Using Brinley plots, this meta-analysis provides a quantitative examination of age differences in eight verbal span tasks. The main conclusions are these: (a) there are age differences in all verbal span tasks; (b) the data support the conclusion that working memory span is more age sensitive than short-term memory span; and (c) there is a linear relationship between span of younger adults and span of older adults. A linear model indicates the presence of three distinct functions, in increasing order of size of age effects: simple storage span; backward digit span; and working memory span.
Bopp
Kara L
KL
Department of Psychology and Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, USA. BoppKL@wofford.edu
Verhaeghen
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory