The effects of aging on location-based and distance-based processes in memory for time

Abstract

Retrieving when an event occurred may depend on an estimation of the age of the event (distance-based processes) or on strategic reconstruction processes based on contextual information associated with the event (location-based processes). Young and older participants performed a list discrimination task that has been designed to dissociate the contribution of both types of processes. An adapted Remember/Know/Guess procedure [Can. J. Exp. Psychol. 50 (1996) 114] was developed to evaluate the processes used by the participants to recognize the stimuli and retrieve their list of occurrence. The results showed that aging disrupts location-based processes more than distance-based processes. In addition, a limitation of speed of processing and working-memory capacities was the main predictor of age-related differences on location-based processes, whereas working-memory capacities mediated partly age differences on distance-based processes.

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

6-1-2004

Publication Title

Acta Psychologica

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2003.12.014

Keywords

Episodic memory, Aging, Consciousness states, Recognition memory

Language

English

Format

text

Link to Full Text

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