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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
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Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen
Published on: October 5, 2020
Age differences in dual-task performance after practice.
Katrin Göthe1, Klaus Oberauer, Reinhold Kliegl
1Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, 14415 Potsdam, Germany. kgoethe@rz.uni-potsdam.de
Psychology and Aging
|September 19, 2007
Summary
Older adults cannot achieve parallel processing of two cognitive tasks, unlike younger adults, suggesting age-related differences in dual-task management. This impacts cognitive function research.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of aging
- Human performance
Background:
- Young adults can perform two cognitive operations simultaneously.
- The capacity for parallel processing in older adults remains under investigation.
- Dual-tasking research explores cognitive load and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if older adults can learn parallel processing of cognitive tasks.
- To compare learning trajectories of young and older adults in dual-tasking.
- To investigate age-related differences in cognitive flexibility.
Main Methods:
- Participants: 12 young and 12 older adults.
- Tasks: Numerical and visuospatial continuous memory updating.
- Training: Single-task and dual-task practice over 16-24 sessions.
Main Results:
- 90% of young adults achieved parallel processing post-training.
- No older adults reached the criterion for parallel processing.
- Significant differences observed in dual-task performance between age groups.
Conclusions:
- Older adults did not acquire parallel processing abilities under these conditions.
- Qualitative differences exist in how young and older adults manage dual-task situations.
- Age impacts the ability to overcome dual-task costs through practice.
