ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown repetition priming for objects between vision and touch, environmental sounds and pictures in young and older adults. METHODS: This preliminary study investigated whether repetition priming exists for edible stimuli and if it is preserved in healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 investigated whether cross-modal repetition priming between taste and olfaction is preserved with age and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The results of Experiment 1 showed significant repetition priming effects for edible stimuli presented to taste, but there was a significant decrease in performance with age and cognitive decline. Experiment 2 showed cross-modal taste to olfactory priming in young adults and healthy older people, but the performance of older adults with MCI did not differ from zero. Again, identification decreased significantly in older adults and was absent in those with MCI. CONCLUSIONS: Implicit memory for stimuli presented to taste persists in healthy older adults and those with MCI, although their performance declined compared to young adults. The fi nding of cross-modal taste and olfactory priming suggests the connection between these two chemosensory perceptual modalities
ANTECEDENTES: estudios previos han mostrado priming de repetición intermodal visión-tacto y para sonidos ecológicos e imagines en jóvenes y mayores. MÉTODOS: investigamos si existe priming de repetición para estímulos presentados al gusto y si se encuentra preservado en adultos mayores sanos y con déficit cognitivo leve (Experimento 1). El Experimento 2 investiga si el priming intermodal entre el gusto y el olfato se encuentra preservado con la edad y el déficit cognitivo. RESULTADOS: el Experimento 1 mostró priming significativo para estímulos presentados al gusto, pero se produjo una disminución de la actuación con la edad y el declive cognitivo. El Experimento 2 mostró priming intermodal gusto-olfato en jóvenes y mayores sanos pero la actuación del grupo de mayores con deterioro cognitivo no fue diferente de cero. La identificación de los estímulos disminuyo significativamente en los mayores y no existió en los mayores con déficit cognitivo. CONCLUSIONES: la memoria implícita gustativa existe en mayores sanos y con déficit cognitivo leve, aunque la actuación disminuye comparado con los jóvenes. El priming intermodal gusto-olfato sugiere la conexión entre estas dos modalidades perceptivas
Subject(s)
Humans , Aged , Repetition Priming , Olfactory Perception , Taste Perception , Cognitive Dysfunction/psychologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown repetition priming for objects between vision and touch, environmental sounds and pictures in young and older adults. METHODS: This preliminary study investigated whether repetition priming exists for edible stimuli and if it is preserved in healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 investigated whether cross-modal repetition priming between taste and olfaction is preserved with age and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The results of Experiment 1 showed significant repetition priming effects for edible stimuli presented to taste, but there was a significant decrease in performance with age and cognitive decline. Experiment 2 showed cross-modal taste to olfactory priming in young adults and healthy older people, but the performance of older adults with MCI did not differ from zero. Again, identification decreased significantly in older adults and was absent in those with MCI. CONCLUSIONS: Implicit memory for stimuli presented to taste persists in healthy older adults and those with MCI, although their performance declined compared to young adults. The finding of cross-modal taste and olfactory priming suggests the connection between these two chemosensory perceptual modalities.
