Abstract
Sense of agency (SoAg) is the feeling of control over one's actions and their effects. It can be augmented or attenuated by internal signals and by external cues. Research has shown a reduction in the SoAg in older adulthood, but the reasons behind this change remain unclear. We investigated agency processing differences that may underpin age-related changes in SoAg. Using a modified version of a vicarious agency paradigm, we tested the modulation of SoAg by manipulating external situational agency cues in younger and older adults. Our results show that the illusion of vicarious agency was less pronounced in older adults. These results were replicated in a second experiment which also showed that older adults performed significantly better in interoception and proprioception tasks. We suggest that increased reliance on internal cues may explain differences in agency processing in older adulthood.
Highlights
Sense of agency (SoAg) refers to the experience of initiating and controlling action in order to influence events in one’s environment
Similar findings were observed when we measured Sense of ownership (SoO), which is an aspect of self-awareness closely related to SoAg
Looking at proprioceptive and interoceptive accuracy, we found that older adults performed better on the proprioceptive and interoceptive tasks compared to younger adults
Summary
Sense of agency (SoAg) refers to the experience of initiating and controlling action in order to influence events in one’s environment. It is inextricably linked to everyday notions of freedom and responsibility [1] and forms an integral part of our cognitive and social lives [2]. Research suggests a general reduction in feeling of control over life events in older adulthood Recent research shows more specific age-related changes in SoAg, with older adults shown to be less sensitive to external manipulations of their sense of control [6]. Given the psychological and social significance of SoAg [7], these age-related changes warrant further.
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