Task specificity in age-related slowing: word production versus conceptual comparison

We analyzed age-related slowing in 29 younger (M = 22 years) and 30 older adults (M = 70 years) who performed a conceptual comparison task, a naming task, and a simple reaction time task. Both vocal and manual responses were elicited in all except the naming task. Results did not support the hypothesis that there is greater age-related slowing in comparison tasks than in production tasks. In contrast, we found an interaction between age and response modality in the conceptual comparison task. Response latencies of younger participants were shorter in the manual modality whereas those of older participants were shorter in the vocal modality. In the simple reaction time task manual responses were faster in the two age groups. These findings are discussed in relation to models assuming task-specific slowing factors.