Working memory, control of interference and everyday experience of thought interference: when age makes the...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience of Aging

Background:

• Age-related working memory decline is linked to reduced inhibitory control.
• The specific impact of everyday intrusive thoughts on working memory across the lifespan remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of cognitive inhibition and everyday intrusive thought suppression in working memory performance across different adult age groups.
• To examine how age influences working memory, inhibitory efficacy, and the tendency to suppress thoughts.

Main Methods:

• Participants from three age groups (young, young-old, old-old adults) completed a working memory task.
• The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) was administered to assess thought suppression tendencies.

Main Results:

• Working memory capacity and inhibitory efficacy decreased with advancing age.
• Older adults (old-old) reported higher levels of intrusive thoughts (higher WBSI scores).
• Working memory performance correlated with controlling interfering information across all ages, and with thought suppression specifically in old-old adults.

Conclusions:

• Intrusive thoughts play a critical role in the age-related decline of working memory function.
• The findings suggest that managing intrusive thoughts is crucial for maintaining working memory capacity in late adulthood.