title: A sensory origin for color-word Stroop effects in aging: a meta-analysis.
abstract: An increase in Stroop effects with age is often interpreted as reflecting reductions in selective attention, or alternatively, cognitive slowing with age. In a cross-lab and a cross-sectional analysis, we linked sensory losses to Stroop declines. Specifically, we found that the latency difference, or dimensional imbalance, between reading and naming the font color of color-neutral words increased with age. A cross-sectional analysis revealed that this dimensional imbalance can both mediate the effects of age on Stroop effects, and contribute to Stroop after controlling for age effects. We conclude that age-related changes in color perception contribute to and may mediate age-related changes in Stroop.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Biological Communication Systems, University of Toronto Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. boaz.ben.david@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Boaz M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ben-David
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003071:Cognition; D003116:Color; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014796:Visual Perception; D014825:Vocabulary; D055815:Young Adult