Does age affect metacognition? A cross-domain investigation using a hierarchical Bayesian framework
Lucile Meunier-Duperray1, Audrey Mazancieux2, Céline Souchay3
1Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LPNC, 38000 Grenoble, France; Université de Tours, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7295 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l'Apprentissage, Tours, France.
Cognition
|February 22, 2025
Summary
Metacognitive efficiency in aging varies by cognitive domain. While episodic memory judgment accuracy declines with age, semantic memory judgment accuracy improves, suggesting domain-specific age effects on metacognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of aging
- Metacognition research
Background:
- Metacognitive accuracy in aging is domain-dependent, with older adults often showing deficits in episodic memory but not semantic memory.
- Age-related changes in metacognition are task-specific, and other domains like executive functioning are less explored.
- This study addresses whether metacognition is impaired in healthy aging by integrating advanced methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in metacognitive efficiency across different cognitive domains.
- To determine if metacognitive efficiency relies on domain-general or domain-specific processes in older adults.
- To clarify the nature of metacognitive impairments in healthy aging.
Main Methods:
- Recruited a large sample (n=443) of adults aged 18-79.
- Collected retrospective confidence judgments in episodic memory, semantic memory, executive functioning, and visual perception.
- Estimated metacognitive efficiency using a hierarchical Bayesian implementation of the meta-d' model.
Main Results:
- Metacognitive efficiency decreased with age in episodic memory tasks.
- Metacognitive efficiency increased with age in semantic memory tasks.
- No significant age effects on metacognitive efficiency were found for executive functioning or visual perception tasks.
- Metacognitive efficiency appeared to involve domain-general processes in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Metacognitive efficiency in healthy aging is not uniformly impaired but shows domain-specific patterns.
- Understanding episodic metamemory deficits in aging is crucial for addressing retrieval and strategy implementation difficulties.
- Future research should explore domain-general mechanisms underlying metacognitive performance in older adults.
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