Staying on Task: Age-Related Changes in the Relationship Between Executive Functioning and Response Time Consistency.
Brandon P Vasquez1, Malcolm A Binns2, Nicole D Anderson3
1Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Summary
Older adults show increased response time (RT) variability, particularly in the tau parameter. Executive functioning is linked to this tau variability in very old adults, suggesting a marker of cognitive control decline.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychology
Background:
- Response time (RT) distribution indices, including intraindividual standard deviation (ISD) and ex-Gaussian parameters (mu, sigma, tau), are sensitive to aging.
- The relationship between executive functioning and these RT distribution indices across the adult lifespan remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate age-related changes in RT distribution indices using a touch-screen task.
- To investigate how executive functioning relates to RT distribution indices in aging adults.
Main Methods:
- Healthy young, young-old, and old-old adults (N=72) completed a touch-screen attention task and neuropsychological tests.
- Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyzed relationships between RT indices and executive functions.
Main Results:
- ISD, mu, and tau increased with age; sigma did not.
- SEM identified tau as the most significant RT index related to executive functioning.
- The correlation between tau and executive function was significant only in the old-old group (aged 75-85).
Conclusions:
- Findings confirm increased RT inconsistency in older adults.
- Executive functioning, specifically cognitive control, is significantly associated with the tau parameter in very old adults.
- Tau may serve as a marker for age-related cognitive control deterioration.
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