title: The learning of linear and nonlinear functions in younger and older adults.
abstract: The performance of 192 adults in a functional learning task containing four types of cue-criterion relations-direct, inverse, U-shaped, and inverse-U-shaped-was compared. The ability of these adults at extrapolating learning to situations containing more extreme values than the ones in which it took place was also examined. Older participants (65-90-year-olds) were able to learn the nonlinear functions practically as well as younger participants (18-25- and 40-50-year-olds); they were also able to extrapolate well beyond the range of learned responses. When extrapolating, however, they frequently used a more limited range of responses than the younger participants.
authors.affiliation: Gérard Chasseigne, Laboratoire de Psychologie du Stress, University of Champagne, Reims, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Musiélak
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chasseigne
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mullet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D007858:Learning; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological