Age Effects in Sequence-Construction for a Continuous Cognitive Task: Similar Sequence-Trends but Fewer...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human factors

Background:

• Individuals exhibit varied preferences for sequencing tasks, from tackling challenges first to last.
• Previous research on age and sequence preference focused on discrete, hypothetical events.
• This study investigates sequence preferences in a realistic, continuous, and cognitively demanding task.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine age-related differences in sequence preferences for a sustained cognitive task.
• To explore how task difficulty sequencing is affected by age.
• To analyze the impact of task switching on performance across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• 121 participants (aged 21-86) completed 10-minute blocks of difficult (2-back), easy (1-back) cognitive tasks, and rest.
• Participants could freely choose task order and switching frequency.
• Affective, physiological, accuracy, time-perspective, and demographic data were collected.

Main Results:

• Most participants preferred sequences with decreasing task difficulty.
• Age did not significantly influence the general trend of sequence difficulty preference.
• Task switching frequency decreased with age, with older adults showing greater accuracy decrements from switching.

Conclusions:

• While overall sequence difficulty preference is age-invariant, older adults strategically reduce task switching.
• Age-related declines in cognitive control impact the efficiency of task switching.
• Findings have implications for designing age-friendly cognitive tasks and work environments.