Introduction to the special section on cognitive plasticity in the aging mind.

Abstract

Decades of cognitive aging research have led to a picture of the aging mind that is primarily characterized by gradual, though relatively broad, cognitive decline across the life span. Until recently, relatively little attention has been devoted to the question of whether there are ways to slow down, if not stop, this decline. With the special section on cognitive plasticity in the aging mind, we respond to what seems to be a beginning of the reversal of this trend (e.g., Kramer & Willis, 2002). In this short introduction, I will provide some context and a preview of the articles that appear in the special section. There have been prominent earlier attempts to assess the potential for positive change in cognitive functioning during the final decades of the life span. Perhaps, most notable in this regard is the work by P. Baltes, Kliegl, Willis, and colleagues with its emphasis on the range of plasticity rather than the assessment of current status (e.g., Baltes & Kliegl, 1992; Willis, Blieszner, & Baltes, 1982). We have learned from this work that older adults can improve their ability to solve certain reasoning or memory tasks through tailored strategy training, sometimes beyond the level of untrained young adults. However, along with this encouraging