Is there a deficit in recognition in old age? / ¿El reconocimiento empeora al envejecer?

BACKGROUND: There is some debate over of the effect of aging on the ability to recognize previously processed information. The aim of the present study is to analyze, by means of different measurements, whether aging has differential effects on recall and recognition of visual and verbal materials. METHOD: A within-subject design was used to compare two groups of different age (younger, older) in tasks of recall and recognition of images and of the verbal descriptors exchanged in a conversation. RESULTS: The results indicated that, unlike the recall and recognition of words, better in younger participants, the recall and recognition of images was equal in both groups, or even better in older participants when assessed by means of d'. Nevertheless, a more strict recently proposed measurement, the conditional probability for recall given recognition, yielded significant age differences in all instances. Besides, the conditional probability shows the aging changes usually found in the serial position curve: decline of the primacy effect, while maintenance of the recency effect. CONCLUSIONS: Results are explained according to the theories that postulate two components in the process of recognition (familiarity and recollection), which are independently affected by aging

ANTECEDENTES: existe controversia acerca del efecto del envejecimiento sobre la habilidad para reconocer información previamente procesada. El principal objetivo del estudio es analizar, mediante distintas medidas, si al envejecer se produce un declive diferencial del recuerdo y el reconocimiento de materiales visuales y verbales. MÉTODO: se comparó con un diseño intrasujetos el rendimiento de dos grupos de distinta edad (joven, mayor) en tareas de recuerdo y reconocimiento de imágenes y de los descriptores verbales intercambiados en una conversación. RESULTADOS: los resultados indicaron que, a diferencia del recuerdo y reconocimiento de palabras, mejor en jóvenes, el recuerdo y reconocimiento de imágenes es igual en ambos grupos, o incluso mejor en los mayores mediante estimaciones como d'. Sin embargo, una medida más estricta recientemente propuesta, la probabilidad condicionada de recordar la información reconocida, muestra diferencias significativas en función de la edad en todos los casos. Además, dibuja el cambio habitual de la curva de posición serial al envejecer: declive del efecto de primacía y mantenimiento del efecto de recencia. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados se explican en el marco de las teorías que postulan dos componentes en el proceso de reconocimiento (familiaridad y recuperación), sobre los que el envejecimiento tiene distintos efectos

Is there a deficit in recognition in old age?

BACKGROUND: There is some debate over of the effect of aging on the ability to recognize previously processed information. The aim of the present study is to analyze, by means of different measurements, whether aging has differential effects on recall and recognition of visual and verbal materials. METHOD: A within-subject design was used to compare two groups of different age (younger, older) in tasks of recall and recognition of images and of the verbal descriptors exchanged in a conversation. RESULTS: The results indicated that, unlike the recall and recognition of words, better in younger participants, the recall and recognition of images was equal in both groups, or even better in older participants when assessed by means of d´. Nevertheless, a more strict recently proposed measurement, the conditional probability for recall given recognition, yielded significant age differences in all instances. Besides, the conditional probability shows the aging changes usually found in the serial position curve: decline of the primacy effect, while maintenance of the recency effect. CONCLUSIONS: RESULTS are explained according to the theories that postulate two components in the process of recognition (familiarity and recollection), which are independently affected by aging.

Positive bias is a defining characteristic of aging to the same extent as declining performance.

The aim of this study was to analyze whether one of the supposed gains of aging--positive bias--discriminates between young and older participants to the same extent as some of the losses in cognitive performance--recall and source monitoring--that come with age. Two age groups (N = 120)--young (M = 22.08, SD = 3.30) and older (M = 72.78, SD = 6.57)--carried out three tasks with varying levels of difficulty that included recall, recognition, and source monitoring using pictures, faces, and personal descriptors exchanged in a conversation as stimuli. The results of the discriminant analysis performed on 20 dependent variables indicated that six of them were key in discriminating between young and older participants. Younger participants outperformed older participants in recalling pictures, and in recognizing the descriptors exchanged in a conversation, as well as in monitoring their source. Just as important in discriminating between the two groups were the ability to recognize previously seen pictures, the likability rating they produced, and the recognition of faces with positive expressions--all superior in older participants. Thus, variables related to a positive bias--likability ratings and recognition of positive expressions--characterize the differences as a function of age as well as variables related to cognitive performance, such as recall and source monitoring. In addition, the likability ratings evoked by both pictures and faces were also significantly higher in the older participants with better cognitive performance than in those who performed poorly. This effect was not present in younger participants. The results are interpreted within the framework of socioemotional selectivity theory as evidence for a positive bias in old age. The connection between a positive bias and the maintenance of cognitive performance is also discussed.

Age differences in source monitoring and referent discrimination.

In contrast to previous studies which addressed separately memory for source and referent, the present experiment analyzes the effects of aging on memory for both, source and referent. The experiment simulated a conversation between two people exchanging descriptors of themselves and the other speaker (e.g., "I am helpful," "you are capable"). Participants (N = 60) were divided into two age groups: younger (M = 23.47 years old, SD = 2.37), older (M = 70.30 years old, SD = 3.73). Recall, recognition, and accuracy in identifying source (e.g., "who said helpful?") and referent (e.g., "about whom was capable said?") were analyzed. Younger and older adults recalled and recognized equally well information read by the experimenter about herself, but only young adults showed better memory for the descriptors they read about themselves. Older adults were impaired in source monitoring, but not in reference discrimination. Normal referent discrimination in older adults is attributed to the fact that the referent forms part of the content of the episode, whereas who spoke it is part of its context, and older adults tend to show greater deficits in context than in content memory. These results are explained within the source and reality monitoring framework.

Age differences in source monitoring and referent discrimination

In contrast to previous studies which addressed separately memory for source and referent, the present experiment analyzes the effects of aging on memory for both, source and referent. The experiment simulated a conversation between two people exchanging descriptors of themselves and the other speaker (e.g., «I am helpful», «you are capable»). Participants (N = 60) were divided into two age groups: younger (M = 23.47 years old, SD = 2.37), older (M = 70.30 years old, SD = 3.73). Recall, recognition, and accuracy in identifying source (e.g., «who said helpful?») and referent (e.g., «about whom was capable said?») were analyzed. Younger and older adults recalled and recognized equally well information read by the experimenter about herself, but only young adults showed better memory for the descriptors they read about themselves. Older adults were impaired in source monitoring, but not in reference discrimination. Normal referent discrimination in older adults is attributed to the fact that the referent forms part of the content of the episode, whereas who spoke it is part of its context, and older adults tend to show greater deficits in context than in content memory. These results are explained within the source and reality monitoring framework (AU)

A diferencia de estudios anteriores que han abordado por separado la identificación del origen y del referente de la información, este experimento analiza los efectos del envejecimiento sobre la discriminación conjunta de ambos, origen y referente. El experimento simula una conversación entre dos personas (investigadora y participante) que intercambian descriptores de sí mismas y de su interlocutora (e.g., «yo soy amable», «tú eres capaz»). Se dividió a los participantes (N = 60) en dos grupos en función de la edad: joven (M = 23'47 años, DT = 2'37), mayor (M = 70'30 años, DT = 3'73). Se analizó recuerdo, reconocimiento y precisión en la identificación del origen (e.g., «¿quién dijo amable?») y del referente (e.g., «¿sobre quién se dijo que era capaz?») de los descriptores intercambiados en la conversación. Los resultados indicaron que jóvenes y mayores recordaron y reconocieron por igual la información que la experimentadora leyó sobre sí misma, pero sólo los jóvenes recordaron mejor los descriptores que ellos leyeron sobre sí mismos. Los mayores tuvieron dificultades en la identificación del origen, pero no del referente. El mantenimiento de la discriminación del referente se atribuye a que forma parte del contenido del episodio, cuyo recuerdo no está afectado por el envejecimiento. Por el contrario, el recuerdo del origen, como parte del contexto, sí se ve afectado. Los resultados se explican en el marco teórico del control del origen en la memoria (AU)

Age-related changes in recognition and response criterion

Recognition performance does not usually change along the lifespan, but the response criterion usually does, and in general, it changes from being conservative during youth to being liberal, in old age. The focus of the present study is to analyze the changes that take place, both in discrimination and response criterion, as a result of aging in two recognition tasks: one with neutral images, and the other with faces showing positive and negative emotional expressions. Two groups of participants performed both tasks: young (N = 21; age range, 17-33 years), older (N = 21; age range, 65-91 years). The analyses of several discrimination parameters (d´ and probability of recognition) and the response criterion yielded significant age differences. Thus, results indicated that the ability to discriminate of older participants was better than that of younger participants when having to recognize neutral images, and faces with negative emotional expressions. The response criterion of younger participants was always conservative, whereas older participants only showed liberal criteria in front of faces with emotional expressions. In relation to the neutral images, the response criterion of older participants was optimum, because it led to more hits, without increasing the false alarms. The results are partially explained by the tasks differential difficulty, and are discussed within the frame of Simulation theory (AU)

El rendimiento en pruebas de reconocimiento no suele variar a lo largo de la vida, pero sí lo hace el criterio de respuesta empleado que, en general, pasa de ser conservador, en la juventud, a ser liberal, al envejecer. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar los cambios que se producen en la discriminación y el criterio de respuesta en función de la edad en dos pruebas de reconocimiento: una frente a imágenes sin carga emocional y otra frente a caras con expresiones faciales positivas y negativas. Dos grupos de participantes realizaron ambas pruebas: joven (N = 21; rango de edad de 17-33 años), mayor (N = 21; rango de edad de 65-91 años). El análisis de diferentes medidas de discriminación (d´ y probabilidad de reconocimiento) y del criterio de respuesta de los participantes en las distintas tareas experimentales arrojó diferencias significativas en función de la edad. Así, los resultados indicaron que la habilidad para discriminar de las personas de más edad supera a la de los jóvenes frente a imágenes neutras y caras con expresiones faciales negativas. En lo que respecta al criterio de respuesta, el de los jóvenes siempre fue conservador, en tanto que el de los mayores fue óptimo frente a imágenes neutras (más aciertos sin incremento de falsas alarmas) y liberal frente a las caras con expresiones faciales emocionales. Los resultados se explican en parte por la dificultad diferencial de las pruebas y se interpretan dentro del marco de la teoría de la simulación (AU)

Age-related changes in recognition and response criterion.

Recognition performance does not usually change along the lifespan, but the response criterion usually does, and in general, it changes from being conservative during youth to being liberal, in old age. The focus of the present study is to analyze the changes that take place, both in discrimination and response criterion, as a result of aging in two recognition tasks: one with neutral images, and the other with faces showing positive and negative emotional expressions. Two groups of participants performed both tasks: young (N = 21; age range, 17-33 years), older (N = 21; age range, 65-91 years). The analyses of several discrimination parameters (d' and probability of recognition) and the response criterion yielded significant age differences. Thus, results indicated that the ability to discriminate of older participants was better than that of younger participants when having to recognize neutral images, and faces with negative emotional expressions. The response criterion of younger participants was always conservative, whereas older participants only showed liberal criteria in front of faces with emotional expressions. In relation to the neutral images, the response criterion of older participants was optimum, because it led to more hits, without increasing the false alarms. The results are partially explained by the tasks differential difficulty, and are discussed within the frame of Simulation theory.

Memoria y envejecimiento: recuerdo, reconocimiento y sesgo positivo / Memory and aging: Recall, recognition and positive bias

El objetivo del estudio es analizar el declive y mantenimiento de distintos aspectos del rendimiento mnémico al envejecer y su posible relación con el sesgo positivo en el procesamiento de la información.Para ello, se comparó el rendimiento en tareas de recuerdo y reconocimiento de dos grupos de distinta edad (joven, mayor). Los resultados muestran que el declive del recuerdo presente en el envejecimiento no afecta por igual a la curva de posición serial, sino que se plasma en la ausencia del efecto de primacía, frente a la presencia del efecto de recencia inalterado. Los datos evidencian además la permanencia intacta de la habilidad para reconocer información al envejecer, así como el sesgo positivo en el recuerdo que aparece incluso frente a estímulos sin carga emocional. Una reinterpretación dela teoría de la selectividad socio emocional de Carstensen y colaboradores sirve para dar cuenta de los resultados (AU)

The aim of the present study was to analyze the decay and maintenance of various aspects of the mnemic performance among the aged population and its potential relationship with a positive information processing bias. Thus, we compared recall and recognition performance in two groups of different ages (young, old). Results indicated that the free recall deficit found among the aged participants did not affect the serial position curve evenly, but took its toll in the absence of the primacy effect, whereas it left the recency effect intact. The data also showed that the ability to recognize information did not change with age, and revealed the presence of a positive recall bias even when the stimuli had no emotional content. A re-interpretation of Carstensen and colleagues’ socio-emotional selectivity theory was used to account for the results (AU)

[Memory and aging: recall, recognition and positive bias]. / Memoria y envejecimiento: recuerdo, reconocimiento y sesgo positivo.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the decay and maintenance of various aspects of the mnemic performance among the aged population and its potential relationship with a positive information processing bias. Thus, we compared recall and recognition performance in two groups of different ages (young, old). Results indicated that the free recall deficit found among the aged participants did not affect the serial position curve evenly, but took its toll in the absence of the primacy effect, whereas it left the recency effect intact. The data also showed that the ability to recognize information did not change with age, and revealed the presence of a positive recall bias even when the stimuli had no emotional content. A re-interpretation of Carstensen and colleagues' socio-emotional selectivity theory was used to account for the results.