Abstract
Although ageing is known to affect memory, the precise nature of its effect on retrieval and encoding processes is not well understood. Here, we examine the effect of ageing on the free recall of word lists, in which the semantic structure of word sequences was manipulated from unrelated words to pairs of associated words with various separations (between pair members) within the sequence. We find that ageing is associated with reduced total recall, especially for sequences with associated words. Furthermore, we find that the degree of semantic clustering (controlled for chance clustering) shows an age effect and that it interacts with the distance between the words within a pair. The results are consistent with the view that age effects in memory are mediated both by retrieval and by encoding processes associated with frontal control and working memory.
Highlights
Episodic memory is known to decline with age, and this decline affects some tasks and processes more than others
The largest age-related declines are found in tasks, such as free recall, which depend on retrieval strategies, while smaller deficits are found in recognition memory [1]
We tested for age-related differences in memory recall of word lists made of associated pairs, with various degrees of separation between the pair members
Summary
Episodic memory is known to decline with age, and this decline affects some tasks and processes more than others. The largest age-related declines are found in tasks, such as free recall, which depend on retrieval strategies, while smaller deficits are found in recognition memory [1]. This conclusion is supported by studies of free recall [2], which reported that older adults have lower temporal contiguity effects (a reduction in the conditional probability of sequentially reporting items in proximal list positions). This is an effect which is associated with the use of retrieved context to guide subsequent retrieval [3]. While such studies suggest that age-related decline in episodic memory is due to a retrieval deficit, encoding deficits have been demonstrated, as older participants are less likely to form rich, elaborative memory traces [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call