Memory plasticity across the life span: Uncovering children's latent potential

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yvonne Brehmer - , Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Saarland University, Aging Research Center (ARC) (Author)
  • Shu Chen Li - , Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Author)
  • Viktor Müller - , Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Saarland University (Author)
  • Timo Von Oertzen - , Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Saarland University (Author)
  • Ulman Lindenberger - , Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Saarland University (Author)

Abstract

Memory plasticity, or the ability to improve one's memory performance through instruction and training, is known to decline during adulthood. However, direct comparisons among middle childhood, adulthood, and old age are lacking. The authors examined memory plasticity in an age-comparative multisession training study. One hundred and eight participants ages 9-10, 11-12, 20-25, and 65-78 years learned and practiced an imagery-based mnemonic technique to encode and retrieve words by location cues. Individuals of all ages were able to acquire and optimize use of the technique. Older adults and children showed similar baseline performance and improvement through mnemonic instruction. However, in line with tenets from life-span psychology (P. B. Baltes, 1987), children profited more from mnemonic practice and reached higher levels of final performance than did older adults.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)465-478
Number of pages14
JournalDevelopmental psychology
Volume43
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2007
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 17352553
ORCID /0000-0001-8409-5390/work/142254948

Keywords

Keywords

  • Aging, Child development, Episodic memory, Lifespan, Memory plasticity and training