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Updated: Oct 15, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Age-related changes in ongoing thought relate to external context and individual cognition
Adam Turnbull1, Giulia L Poerio2, Nerissa Sp Ho3
1School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, USA; Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester, USA.
Older adults engage in more positive thinking and less future-oriented mind-wandering, offering insights into cognitive aging and daily life. This study used experience sampling to explore age-related thought content differences.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of aging
- Human development
Background:
- Understanding real-world cognitive changes with age is crucial.
- Experience sampling (ES) captures ongoing thought content.
- Previous research indicates age-related shifts in thought content, but links to cognitive aging and lifestyle remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how age-related changes in cognition manifest in daily life through thought content.
- To explore the relationship between ongoing thought patterns, cognitive performance, and aging.
Main Methods:
- Employed experience sampling (ES) in 78 younger and 35 older adults.
- Participants self-reported thought content (20 dimensions) and activity difficulty.
- Laboratory-based cognitive tasks were administered.
Main Results:
- Older adults reported more positive, desired thoughts, especially during demanding activities.
- Older adults exhibited less mind-wandering about their future selves.
- Past-related thoughts and episodic memory showed differential associations in older versus younger adults.
Conclusions:
- Experience sampling provides valuable insights into age-related cognitive changes in daily life.
- Findings suggest older adults may regulate their thoughts more positively.
- These results contribute to understanding the interplay between aging, cognition, and subjective experience.
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