Do working-memory executive components mediate the effects of age on strategy selection or on strategy execution?...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive psychology
• Neuroscience
• Developmental psychology

Background:

• Cognitive aging research explores how age impacts various cognitive functions, including arithmetic.
• Strategy selection and execution are key components of cognitive performance, particularly in mathematical tasks.
• Executive functions are crucial for cognitive control and are known to decline with age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related differences in arithmetic strategy selection and execution.
• To examine the impact of dual-tasking on arithmetic performance in younger and older adults.
• To explore the mediating role of executive functions in age-related changes in arithmetic.

Main Methods:

• Participants (younger and older adults) performed an inequality verification task under control and dual-task conditions.
• Arithmetic problem characteristics were manipulated to assess strategy selection and execution.
• An executive-component task was used in the dual-task condition.

Main Results:

• Strategy selection differed with age; older adults predominantly used one strategy, while younger adults employed multiple strategies.
• These age-related differences in strategy selection were consistent across control and dual-task conditions.
• Strategy execution showed larger age-related differences on more difficult problems, especially under dual-task conditions, mediated by age-related slowing.

Conclusions:

• Age significantly influences arithmetic strategy selection, with older adults exhibiting less flexibility.
• Executive function deficits, particularly under dual-task load, exacerbate age-related declines in arithmetic strategy execution.
• Understanding these age-related cognitive changes is crucial for comprehending arithmetic performance across the lifespan.