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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
09:13
A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test
Published on: May 16, 2017
11.4K
Goal-directed remembering in older adults.
Joseph P Hennessee1,2, Julia M Schorn1, Catherine Walsh1
1Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Summary
Older adults struggle with directed-forgetting tasks compared to younger adults, but can still selectively remember valuable information. Aging does not impair value-based memory encoding.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience of Aging
Background:
- Older adults often exhibit memory differences compared to younger adults, particularly in distinguishing between items to remember and forget.
- This age-related memory pattern may stem from increased attention to irrelevant information, though goal-directed encoding of valuable items appears preserved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how value influences directed-forgetting and memory for irrelevant details in younger versus older adults.
- To explore age-related differences in value-directed remembering tasks.
Main Methods:
- Participants studied words with associated point values and directed-forgetting cues.
- Memory recall and incidental detail retrieval (point value, color) were tested after varying retention intervals (8 min, 24 hr).
Main Results:
- Both age groups effectively encoded valuable items, showing preserved selectivity for value.
- Older adults demonstrated a reduced directed-forgetting effect compared to younger adults, persisting over 24 hours.
- Incidental detail retrieval was comparable between younger and older adults in Experiment 2.
Conclusions:
- Aging does not impede the ability to selectively encode valuable information.
- While encoding valuable items is preserved, the effectiveness of directed-forgetting instructions diminishes with age.
- Older adults may process item features similarly to younger adults but are less adept at inhibiting the recall of instructed-to-forget items.
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