Aging selectively impairs recollection in recognition memory for pictures: evidence from modeling and receiver operating characteristic curves.
Young and older adults were tested on recognition memory for pictures. The Yonelinas high threshold (YHT) model, a formal implementation of 2-process theory, fit the response distribution data of both young and older adults significantly better than a normal unequal variance signal-detection model. Consistent with this finding, nonlinear z-transformed receiver operating characteristic curves were obtained for both groups. Estimates of recollection from the YHT model were significantly higher for young than for older adults. This deficit was not a consequence of a general decline in memory; older adults showed comparable overall accuracy and in fact a nonsignificant increase in their familiarity scores. Implications of these results for theories of recognition memory and the mnemonic deficit associated with aging are discussed.
Howard
Marc W
MW
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. marc@memory.syr.edu
Bessette-Symons
Brandy
B
Zhang
Yaofei
Y
Hoyer
William J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011939:Mental Recall; D012372:ROC Curve; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D014796:Visual Perception