Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Age differences in the formation of equivalence classes

K M Wilson1, M A Milan

  • 1Psychology Department, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston 61920, USA.

The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
|July 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Older adults showed less ability to form stimulus equivalence classes compared to younger adults. This age difference in cognitive flexibility was observed across tasks, with slower response times in the elderly group.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Proteomic View of the Cross-Talk Between Early Intestinal Microbiota and Poultry Immune System.

Frontiers in physiology·2020
Same author

Impact of in ovo administered pioneer colonizers on intestinal proteome on day of hatch.

Poultry science·2020
Same author

Research Note: Evaluating fecal shedding of oocysts in relation to body weight gain and lesion scores during Eimeria infection.

Poultry science·2020
Same author

Preliminary studies on development of a novel subunit vaccine targeting Clostridium perfringens mucolytic enzymes for the control of necrotic enteritis in broilers.

Poultry science·2019
Same author

Comparison of multiple methods for induction of necrotic enteritis in broilers: II. Impact on the growth curve.

Poultry science·2019
Same author

Evaluation of the impact of in ovo administered bacteria on microbiome of chicks through 10 days of age.

Poultry science·2019

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Development

Background:

  • Stimulus equivalence class formation is a complex cognitive process.
  • Understanding age-related cognitive changes is crucial for gerontology and psychology.
  • Previous research suggests potential declines in cognitive functions with advanced age.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between aging and stimulus equivalence class formation.
  • To compare the ability of elderly and young adults in establishing equivalence relations.
  • To investigate potential age-related differences in cognitive flexibility.

Main Methods:

  • Two groups, elderly (62-81 years) and young (19-22 years) adults, participated.
  • Participants mastered simple and conditional discrimination tasks.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Equivalence relation emergence was tested, and response latencies were measured.

    • Main Results:

    • A significant age difference was found in equivalence class formation.
    • Elderly subjects were less likely to demonstrate emergent equivalence relations.
    • Response latencies were generally slower in the elderly group, indicating behavioral slowing.
    • No significant gender differences or interactions were observed.

    Conclusions:

    • Advanced age is associated with reduced capacity for stimulus equivalence class formation.
    • Cognitive slowing may contribute to age-related differences in this cognitive task.
    • Findings highlight age-related changes in cognitive flexibility and learning.