Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Cognitive exertion and subsequent intention execution in older adults
Jill Talley Shelton1, Mark A McDaniel, Michael K Scullin
1Department of Psychology, Washington University, Campus Box #1125, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. jshelton@artsci.wustl.edu
Summary
Prior cognitive exertion impairs prospective memory in older adults, especially for attention-demanding tasks. This effect was most significant in the oldest participants, indicating age-related declines in attentional resources.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of aging
Background:
- Prospective memory is crucial for daily functioning in older adults.
- Previous research shows high prospective memory demands negatively impact older adults' performance.
- The influence of prior cognitive load on subsequent prospective memory remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prior cognitive exertion on prospective memory performance in older adults.
- To examine whether cognitive resource depletion affects prospective memory.
- To explore age-related differences in response to cognitive load.
Main Methods:
- 107 older adults (60-85 years) participated.
- Participants completed an initial task (high vs. low cognitive demand).
- A subsequent prospective memory task (high vs. low attentional demand) was administered.
Main Results:
- Cognitive exertion prior to an attention-demanding prospective memory task impaired performance.
- This impairment was more pronounced in older adults (age ≥ 72).
- Prior cognitive exertion did not affect prospective memory performance on low-demand tasks.
Conclusions:
- Prior cognitive exertion negatively impacts prospective memory in older adults.
- Cognitive depletion effects are specific to prospective memory tasks requiring significant attentional resources.
- The findings suggest age-related declines in attentional resources may exacerbate depletion effects.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
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,...
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...
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be interpreted as...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...