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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
Autobiographical memory specificity predicts social problem-solving ability in old and young adults
Amanda Beaman1, Dolores Pushkar, Sarah Etezadi
1Centre for Research in Human Development, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. a_beaman@alcor.concordia.ca
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|August 7, 2007
Summary
Older adults
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human development
Background:
- Age-related cognitive decline may impact social problem-solving.
- Autobiographical memory specificity is linked to cognitive function.
- Previous research focused on depressed young adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between autobiographical memory specificity, cognitive ability, and social problem-solving across age groups.
- To examine if priming autobiographical memory (ABM) enhances social problem-solving in older adults.
- To determine if autobiographical memory serves a directive function throughout the lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive tests were administered to young and older healthy adults.
- Autobiographical memory specificity was assessed using a cued recall task.
- Social problem-solving ability was evaluated, with task order counterbalanced to assess priming effects.
Main Results:
- Autobiographical specificity correlated with cognitive ability in both age groups.
- Lower autobiographical specificity predicted poorer social problem-solving ability.
- Priming autobiographical memory did not significantly improve social problem-solving performance for either age group.
Conclusions:
- Autobiographical memory specificity is a significant predictor of social problem-solving ability across adulthood.
- Autobiographical memory appears to play a directive role in social problem-solving throughout life.
- The hypothesis that priming autobiographical memory would benefit older adults' social problem-solving was not supported.
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