Proverb interpretation changes in aging.
Recent investigations have emphasized the involvement of fronto-subcortical networks to proverb comprehension. Although the prefrontal cortex is thought to be affected by normal aging, relatively little work has been carried out to investigate potential effects of aging on proverb comprehension. In the present investigation participants in three age groups were assessed on a proverb comprehension task and a range of executive function tasks. The older group showed impairment in selecting correct interpretations from alternatives. They also showed executive function deficits, as reflected by reduced working memory and deficient set shifting and inhibition abilities. The findings of the present investigation showed proverb comprehension deficits in normal aging which appeared to be related to reduced executive skills.
Uekermann
Jennifer
J
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology, GAFO 05/607, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Universitatsstrase 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany. Jennifer.Uekermann@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Thoma
Patrizia
P
Daum
Irene
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001045:Aphorisms and Proverbs as Topic; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D006613:Higher Nervous Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012718:Set, Psychology; D013561:Symbolism