| |
Abstract:
Thirty-one post-menopausal women (15 users, 16 non-users of
estrogen) named pictures presented on computer and performed a
pursuit rotor task. Estrogen users vs. non-users were not different
in terms of age, education, depression, or scores on the
Mini-Mental State Examination. Embedded in the naming task were
three priming conditions: identity (e.g., bear-bear), related
(e.g., apple-orange) and unrelated (e.g., hammer-vest).
Voice-activated reaction time (RT) to correctly-named pictures were
significantly different for the three conditions, with shortest RTs
for identity primes and longest RTs for unrelated primes. Using a
difference score for unrelated minus identity RTs, estrogen users
showed a trend towards increased priming compared to non-users, p =
.09. Estrogen users vs. non-users were not significantly different
on overall naming performance for either RT or accuracy. For the
pursuit rotor task, twenty-eight women (13 users, 15 non-users of
estrogen) showed comparable learning and memory, with percentage
time on target (per 20 s trials) increasing over four blocks of
trials by 21 percent and maintaining for 2 blocks of trials after a
30 minute delay. Results fail to confirm a (substantial) advantage
for estrogen use after the menopause on picture naming and pursuit
rotor tasks.
|
