A latent variable approach to executive control in healthy ageing
Daniel Adrover-Roig1, Albert Sesé, Francisco Barceló
1Department of Psychology, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain. daniel.adrover@uib.es
Brain and Cognition
|February 3, 2012
Summary
Executive functions in aging adults show a two-factor structure, suggesting cognitive dedifferentiation. This study explores central executive components like updating, shifting, and inhibition in older individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- The central executive is known to comprise updating, shifting, and inhibition.
- Fractionation of executive functions in the elderly and integration with other models remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the latent structure of executive functions in healthy aging adults.
- To integrate Miyake et al.'s model with additional components like long-term memory access.
Main Methods:
- Administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to 122 healthy adults aged 48-91 years.
- Utilized latent variable analysis (LISREL) for structural equation modeling.
Main Results:
- A four-factor structure emerged, broadly supporting Miyake et al.'s three-factor model.
- Identified 'efficiency of access to long-term memory' and 'speed of processing' as additional factors.
- A two-factor solution best described executive functioning, indicating cognitive dedifferentiation in aging.
Conclusions:
- Executive functions in healthy older adults may exhibit dedifferentiation, characterized by increased interdependence of cognitive processes.
- Findings contribute to understanding cognitive aging and prefrontal cortex functioning.
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