Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Motivational influences on controlled processing: moderating distractibility in older adults
Cassandra M Germain1, Thomas M Hess
1Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7801, USA.
Summary
Older adults show a greater benefit from personally relevant information, improving their ability to ignore distractions and enhance cognitive processing. This highlights the role of motivation in cognitive aging.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience of Aging
Background:
- Aging is linked to reduced efficiency in cognitive control processes.
- The ability to filter out irrelevant information is a key aspect of cognitive control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how personal relevance moderates age-related differences in ignoring distracting information.
- To examine the impact of motivation on cognitive performance across the adult lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted with young (17-26) and older (58-86) adults.
- Participants read passages with varying levels of personal relevance, interspersed with distracting information.
- Cognitive efficiency and comprehension were measured.
Main Results:
- Both age groups showed improved processing efficiency and comprehension with high personal relevance.
- Older adults exhibited a stronger positive effect of personal relevance on cognitive performance.
- Motivational factors significantly influence age differences in cognitive control.
Conclusions:
- Personal relevance can mitigate age-related declines in the ability to ignore distractions.
- Motivational engagement plays a crucial role in maintaining cognitive function in older adults.
- Interventions enhancing personal relevance may support cognitive health in aging individuals.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...