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Long-term age of acquisition effects in famous name processing
James H Smith-Spark1, Viv Moore, Tim Valentine
1London South Bank University, UK. smithspj@lsbu.ac.uk
Acta Psychologica
|November 1, 2011
Summary
The age of acquisition (AoA) effect shows that earlier learned information is processed faster. This study found that reaction times to famous names increased linearly with later acquisition decades, demonstrating AoA
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Memory
Background:
- The age of acquisition (AoA) effect describes a processing advantage for information learned earlier in life.
- This phenomenon is observed across various domains, including words, objects, and people.
- Long-term effects of AoA on cognitive performance remain an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the enduring impact of the age of acquisition (AoA) on cognitive processing speed.
- To examine how AoA influences familiarity judgments for famous names acquired across different decades.
- To explore the interaction between participant age and AoA effects on reaction times.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a within-subjects design with 72 participants aged 40s, 50s, and 60s.
- Manipulated AoA by selecting celebrities who rose to fame in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
- Collected reaction time data from 'Yes-No' familiarity decision tasks for celebrity names.
Main Results:
- A significant age of acquisition (AoA) effect was observed, with faster reaction times for earlier acquired celebrities.
- Reaction times showed a linear increase, being fastest for 1960s names, intermediate for 1970s, and slowest for 1980s names.
- No significant age × AoA interaction was found, though the AoA effect was most pronounced in older participants.
Conclusions:
- The age of acquisition (AoA) exerts a long-term and persistent influence on cognitive processing speed.
- AoA effects are more nuanced than a simple dichotomy between earliest and later acquired information.
- Findings highlight the lasting impact of learning history on current cognitive performance and reaction times.
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