| |
Abstract:
Two current theories may account for the decline in word stem
completion (WSC) priming and cued recall in the elderly. The
elderly may utilize inefficient lexical search strategies (Winocur
et al., 1996), or they may be less likely to inhibit partially
activated information, thereby increasing the likelihood of
producing automatic or highly familiar responses (Balota &
Ferrara, 1996; Hasher & Zacks, 1988). Recent experiments in our
laboratory are consistent with the latter view. In one study, 30
young (ages 18 to 35) and 30 older adults (ages 56-85) were asked
to produce the first three words that came to mind that completed a
series of three-letter word stems. Older adults were more likely to
produce high frequency words than low frequency words, and this was
particularly evident for the first completion. In a second study we
investigated the influence of word frequency on priming and cued
recall performance on a word stem completion task. Sixty young
(ages 18 to 35), 60 middle-aged (ages 36-55) and 60 elderly (ages
56-85) subjects studied 12 high frequency and 12 low frequency
words. They were then tested with 48 word stems; half of the stems
could be completed with a previously studied word. Subjects were
either asked to complete the stems with the first word that came to
mind or with a word that they studied previously. The pattern of
results suggested that although there were no significant overall
differences in priming and cued recall performance between the age
groups, older adults were more likely to produce high frequency
items under both priming and cued recall conditions.
|
