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Aging and memory as discrimination: Influences of encoding specificity, cue overload, and prior knowledge.
Stephen P Badham1, Marie Poirier2, Navina Gandhi3
1Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University.
Psychology and Aging
|November 11, 2016
Summary
Memory retrieval depends on a cue
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Memory
Background:
- Memory retrieval relies on cue-target relationships and discrimination from competitors.
- Encoding-retrieval match may enhance memory by improving cue distinctiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age differences in memory-as-discrimination.
- To examine how encoding-retrieval match interacts with cue-target distinctiveness across age groups.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments manipulated cue overlap and cue-target distinctiveness.
- Retrieval efficiency was measured by response time (Experiment 1) and accuracy (Experiment 2).
- Participants included young and older adults.
Main Results:
- Memory-as-discrimination was age-invariant: benefits of encoding-retrieval match required improved target discrimination.
- Prior knowledge reduced age-related associative deficits.
- Older adults showed greater benefits from increased encoding-retrieval match, likely due to reduced interference.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the memory-as-discrimination framework across age groups.
- Age-related associative deficits may indirectly benefit retrieval by reducing interference.
- Future research should explore interventions to mitigate age-related memory decline.
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