Working memory and inhibitory control across the life span: Intrusion errors in the Reading Span Test

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Inhibitory control and working memory capacity are crucial cognitive functions.
• Understanding their relationship across the lifespan is vital for cognitive development and aging research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between inhibitory control and working memory capacity across the lifespan.
• To examine age-related differences in intrusion errors as a measure of inhibition.

Main Methods:

• Two versions of the Reading Span Test were used: a mixed version and an adaptive version.
• Intrusion errors were analyzed in children, younger adults, and older adults.

Main Results:

• Older adults and children made more intrusion errors than younger adults in the mixed Reading Span Test.
• Age groups differed in the types of intrusions, but not in correct recall or intrusion rates in the adaptive Reading Span Test.

Conclusions:

• Attentional resource availability influences inhibitory efficiency across the lifespan.
• Working memory capacity and inhibitory control are interconnected cognitive functions that change with age.