Age-differences in verbal recognition memory revealed by ERP.
Seventy-four participants (aged 20-82 years) went through a continuous performance recognition memory task with multiple repetitions of words and non-words while ERPs were recorded from the scalp. The old/new ERP effect (the difference in activation to stimuli correctly recognized as old and stimuli correctly recognized as new) for words but not non-words declined with increasing age in a linear pattern, but the relationship between the old/new effect and age varied throughout the ERP time window. Differences in topography between age groups were manifested in a frontal shift in activation for older age groups. Further, the data point to differences in semantic versus non-semantic processing across the adult life span, and it is concluded that specific cognitive memory processes are differentially involved at different ages.
Fjell
Anders M
AM
Institute of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.B. 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway. andersmf@psykologi.uio.no
Walhovd
Kristine B
KB
Reinvang
Ivar
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis