Aging and inhibition processes: the case of metaphor treatment.
The inhibitory deficit hypothesis has often been cited as a possible explanation for cognitive changes related to age. The aim of this study was to develop a new procedure for evaluating effortful inhibition on the basis of the comprehension of metaphors. Our experiment was carried out on younger and older adults, in whom we also measured inhibitory capacity, working memory, and processing speed. The results show that older participants required a longer time and made more frequent errors in rejecting metaphors versus literally false statements. The interference effect was predicted by the psychometric tests designed to evaluate inhibition.
Morrone
Isabella
I
Department of Psychology, CLEA 4296, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne.
Declercq
Christelle
C
Department of Psychology, CLEA 4296, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne.
Novella
Jean-Luc
JL
0000-0002-7074-7500
Department of Geriatric Medicine, EA 3797, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne.
Besche
Chrystel
C
Department of Psychology, CLEA 4296, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D032882:Comprehension; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D019365:Metaphor; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult