Age, IQ and awareness, and recall of errors

Younger people report more lapses than the elderly on the Broadbent Cognitive Failure Questionnaire, the Harris and Sunderland Memory Failure Questionnaire, and a 'Lost and Found' questionnaire. Lapses are not predicted by IQ or vocabulary test scores (AH 4 parts 1 and 2, and Mill Hill). These paradoxical findings reveal some logical and methodological difficulties in the interpretations of subjective self-ratings. Age and IQ differences in the memorability of errors were illustrated using choice reaction time (CRT) tasks. All age groups were equally efficient at 'automatic' error detection and correction, but older individuals more often omitted controller error-signalling responses. Errors followed by controlled responses were better remembered. It is argued that conscious self-monitoring and the ability to remember errors improves with IQ and declines with age.