The research proposed investigates adult age differences and similarities in the procesing of words, sentences, and nonlinguistic stimuli, with the long-term objective of increasing understanding of the memory and language difficulties that accompany aging. Three series of studies are outlined, all sharing the aim of differentiating those aspects of memory and language processing that change with aging from those that do not. The first two series of studies compare the aging of implicit memory (which does not require an introspective report of remembering) with that of explicit memory (which requires conscious recollection). Both series test the hypothesis (1) that in contrast to explicit memory, implicit memory remains relatively constant in the course of normal aging, and (2) that there are some age differences, nonetheless, in the acquisition of implicit associative memory, i.e., in the acquisition of new associations. The first series focuses on verbal associative memory with the aim of specifying the conditions under which there are differences in the occurrence and structure of implicit memory for associations among the nouns in a sentence. Implicit memory is inferred from priming of word-stem completions, and explicit memory is assessed by cued recall. The second series focuses on nonverbal associative memory with the aim of examining the rate of acquisition of memory for a sequence. Implicit memory is assessed by changes in response time to a repeating sequence, whereas explicit memory is tapped in a prediction task. The third series of studies analyzes word retrieval difficulties (tip-of-the- tongue experiences), with the aim of specifying the components of word retrieval that change with age and those that do not. The goals are to determine whether there are age differences (1) in the patterns of memory activation that follow and unsuccessful attempt to retrieve a word, and (2) in the degree to which people's judgments of their knowledge of the word are related to such activation. Memory activation will be inferred from priming in a word/nonword (lexical decision) judgment task.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37AG002751-11
Application #
3480006
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Project Start
1985-05-01
Project End
1993-05-31
Budget Start
1992-05-01
Budget End
1993-05-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgetown University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
049515844
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20057
Howard, D V; Howard Jr, J H (2001) When it does hurt to try: adult age differences in the effects of instructions on implicit pattern learning. Psychon Bull Rev 8:798-805
Howard Jr, J H; Howard, D V (1997) Age differences in implicit learning of higher order dependencies in serial patterns. Psychol Aging 12:634-56
Mutter, S A; Howard Jr, J H; Howard, D V (1994) Serial pattern learning after head injury. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 16:271-88
Wiggs, C L (1993) Aging and memory for frequency of occurrence of novel, visual stimuli: direct and indirect measures. Psychol Aging 8:400-10
Howard Jr, J H; Mutter, S A; Howard, D V (1992) Serial pattern learning by event observation. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 18:1029-39
Howard, D V; Howard Jr, J H (1992) Adult age differences in the rate of learning serial patterns: evidence from direct and indirect tests. Psychol Aging 7:232-41
Howard, D V; Fry, A F; Brune, C M (1991) Aging and memory for new associations: direct versus indirect measures. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 17:779-92
Howard, D V; Howard Jr, J H (1989) Age differences in learning serial patterns: direct versus indirect measures. Psychol Aging 4:357-64