Basic forms of cognitive plasticity extended into the oldest-old: retest learning, age, and cognitive functioning.
To address the question of whether cognitive plasticity varies by age and level of cognitive functioning in the older population, the authors used a self-guided retest paradigm to assess the basic forms of plasticity of 34 young-olds (M=74.4 years, range=70-79) and 34 oldest-olds (M=84.0 years, range=80-91), with half in each age group screened for high or low (midrange) level of cognitive functioning. As a whole, members of the sample represent about the upper two thirds of their age cohorts. Results show persistent, though age-reduced, learning in all samples and across all tests. However, age is not differentially "kinder" to the more able with respect to the age-graded decline in learning.
Yang
Lixia
L
Centre for Life-Span Psychology, Max-Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. lixiay@ryerson.ca
Krampe
Ralf T
RT
Baltes
Paul B
PB
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010465:Perception; D013850:Thinking; D014785:Vision, Ocular