Comparing Memory Skill Maintenance Across the Life Span: Preservation in Adults, Increase in Children

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yvonne Brehmer - , Saarland University, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Shu Chen Li - , Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Author)
  • Benjamin Straube - , Saarland University (Author)
  • Gundula Stoll - , Saarland University (Author)
  • Timo von Oertzen - , Saarland University, Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Author)
  • Viktor Müller - , Saarland University, Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Author)
  • Ulman Lindenberger - , Saarland University, Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Author)

Abstract

The authors examined life-span differences in the maintenance of skilled episodic memory performance by assessing 100 individuals (10-11, 12-13, 21-26, and 66-79 years old) 11 months after termination of an intensive multisession mnemonic training program (Y. Brehmer, S.-C. Li, V. Müller, T. von Oertzen, & U. Lindenberger, 2007). Skill maintenance was tested in 2 follow-up sessions, the first without and the second with mnemonic reinstruction. Younger and older adults' average performance levels were stable across time. In contrast, both younger and older children's memory performance improved beyond originally attained levels. Older adults' performance improved from the first to the second follow-up session, presumably profiting from instruction-induced skill reactivation. Results suggest that (a) skill maintenance is largely intact in healthy older adults, (b) older adults need environmental support to fully reactivate their former skill levels (cf. F. I. M. Craik, 1983), and (c) children adapt a skill learned 11 months ago to their increasing cognitive capabilities.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-238
Number of pages12
JournalPsychology and aging
Volume23
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 46849083480
PubMed 18572999

Keywords

Keywords

  • cognitive intervention, episodic memory, life-span development, plasticity, skill maintenance

Library keywords