Abstract

Two sets of studies are proposed to investigate the hypothesis that age- related impairments in reasoning and spatial abilities are attributable to a decrease with age in certain aspects of working memory. One set of studies will attempt to identify which aspects of working memory are most influenced by increased age, and to determine the relationship between measures of memory obtained during the processing of on-going cognitive tasks and from tasks deliberately designed to assess memory functioning. the second set of studies will focus on the interrelations of age, working memory, and performance in reasoning and spatial tasks of cognitive functioning. A primary goal of both sets of studies is to specify how age-related limitations of working memory might contribute to lower levels of performance in prototypical cognitive tasks. Ultimately it is hoped that this research will indicate the specific mechanisms by which increased age, and potentially a variety of health-related conditions, influence an individuals's level of cognitive functioning.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37AG006826-10
Application #
2049618
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Project Start
1994-09-01
Project End
1999-08-31
Budget Start
1995-09-01
Budget End
1996-08-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Georgia Institute of Technology
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
097394084
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30332

  Publications

Salthouse, T A (2001) Attempted decomposition of age-related influences on two tests of reasoning. Psychol Aging 16:251-63
Salthouse, T A; Toth, J; Daniels, K et al. (2000) Effects of aging on efficiency of task switching in a variant of the trail making test. Neuropsychology 14:102-11
Salthouse, T A; Czaja, S J (2000) Structural constraints on process explanations in cognitive aging. Psychol Aging 15:44-55
Salthouse, T A (2000) Item analyses of age relations on reasoning tests. Psychol Aging 15:8-Mar
Hambrick, D Z; Salthouse, T A; Meinz, E J (1999) Predictors of crossword puzzle proficiency and moderators of age-cognition relations. J Exp Psychol Gen 128:131-64
Becker, J T; Salthouse, T A (1999) Neuropsychological test performance in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: independent effects of diagnostic group on functioning. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 5:41-7
Woodard, J L; Dunlosky, J A; Salthouse, T A (1999) Task decomposition analysis of intertrial free recall performance on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 21:666-76
Salthouse, T A; Hambrick, D Z; McGuthry, K E (1998) Shared age-related influences on cognitive and noncognitive variables. Psychol Aging 13:486-500
Salthouse, T A; Becker, J T (1998) Independent effects of Alzheimer's disease on neuropsychological functioning. Neuropsychology 12:242-52
Salthouse, T A; Fristoe, N; McGuthry, K E et al. (1998) Relation of task switching to speed, age, and fluid intelligence. Psychol Aging 13:445-61

Showing the most recent 10 out of 37 publications