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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Effects of aging on interference control in selective attention and working memory
Selene Cansino1, Daniela Guzzon, Massimiliano Martinelli
1Laboratorio de NeuroCognición, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3004, Colonia Copilco Universidad, México, DF 04510, México. selene@unam.mx
Memory & Cognition
|May 11, 2011
Summary
Older adults
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of aging
Background:
- Working memory decline in older adults is often linked to reduced interference control.
- Two types of interference control are external stimulus perception (access) and internal memory representation (deletion).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct effects of access and deletion interference control on working memory in younger and older adults.
- To compare memory performance under these control conditions versus baseline.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed tasks assessing selective attention (access) and working memory (deletion) interference control.
- Memory accuracy and intrusion effects were measured and compared between age groups and conditions.
Main Results:
- Both younger and older adults showed improved memory accuracy with enhanced access control.
- Only younger adults benefited from deletion control, with older adults showing increased intrusion effects.
- Specific decline was observed in internal memory representation control, not general interference control.
Conclusions:
- Working memory efficiency in aging is specifically impacted by deficits in controlling internal memory representations.
- Interference control mechanisms for external stimuli remain relatively intact with age.
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