A diffusion model analysis of adult age differences in episodic and semantic long-term memory retrieval.
Two experiments investigated adult age differences in episodic and semantic long-term memory tasks, as a test of the hypothesis of specific age-related decline in context memory. Older adults were slower and exhibited lower episodic accuracy than younger adults. Fits of the diffusion model (R. Ratcliff, 1978) revealed age-related increases in non-decisional reaction time for both episodic and semantic retrieval. In Experiment 2, an age difference in boundary separation also indicated an age-related increase in conservative criterion setting. For episodic old-new recognition (Experiment 1) and source memory (Experiment 2), there was an age-related decrease in the quality of decision-driving information (drift rate). As predicted by the context-memory deficit hypothesis, there was no corresponding age-related decline in semantic drift rate.
Duke University Medical Center, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, NC, USA. jspaniol@rotman-baycrest.on.ca
Julia
J
Spaniol
David J
DJ
Madden
Andreas
A
Voss
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003118:Color Perception; D003196:Computer Graphics; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009949:Orientation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011601:Psychophysics; D011930:Reaction Time; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning; D014706:Verbal Learning