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Learning by task repetition enhances object individuation and memorization in the elderly.
Chiara F Tagliabue1, Sara Assecondi2, Giulia Cristoforetti3,4
1Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy. chiara.tagliabue@unitn.it.
Scientific Reports
|November 18, 2020
Summary
Task repetition effectively enhances visuospatial Working Memory (vWM) in older adults. This practice improves both performance sensitivity and capacity, supported by neurophysiological changes in target processing and memory maintenance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Human Psychology
Background:
- Visuospatial Working Memory (vWM) decline is characteristic of cognitive aging.
- Task repetition learning enhances vWM in younger adults, but its effect on older adults is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if task repetition can improve vWM performance in healthy older adults.
- To identify the neurophysiological and cognitive mechanisms underlying learning-induced vWM enhancement in aging.
Main Methods:
- Healthy older adults practiced a delayed match-to-sample vWM task over four sessions.
- Behavioral measures (d', k values) and electrophysiological measures (N2pc, CDA) were used.
Main Results:
- Task repetition significantly improved older adults' vWM performance, increasing sensitivity (d') and capacity (k).
- Electrophysiological data showed that repetition learning modulated target individuation (N2pc) and vWM maintenance (CDA) based on target numerosity.
Conclusions:
- Repetition learning is an effective strategy to enhance visuospatial Working Memory in aging.
- Learning-induced improvements in vWM involve modifications across multiple stages of information processing.
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