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Variations in Age-Related Deficits among Episodic Memory Tasks: An Archival Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Pierre Foisy
Pierre Foisy
Affiliation:
Concordia University
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Abstract

Craik (1986) has proposed that age-related deficits on memory tasks are proportional to the extent to which these tasks require the use of self-initiated operations. Because the number of required self-initiated operations vary among traditional episodic memory tasks, these tasks should display a gradation of age-related deficits. The objective of this study was to test this hypothesis. A secondary analysis (i.e. based on the results of previous studies) was performed on 22 studies in which verbal stimuli were used as targets on more than one episodic memory task. Of the 24 comparisons provided by the studies, 21 supported the gradation concept. This result suggests that the self-initiated operation hypothesis is valid.

Résumé

Craik (1986) a proposé que les déficits liés à l'âge dans les tâches mnésiques sont proportionnelles au nombre d'opérations auto-initiées qu'elles requièrent. Étant donné que le nombre d'opérations auto-initiées varie parmi les tâches mnésiques traditionnelles (i.e. reconnaissance, rappel indicé et rappel libre), ces tâches devraient démontrer une gradation de l'ampleur des déficits liés à l'âge. Cette étude avait pour but de tester cette hypothèse. Une analyse secondaire (i.e. fondée sur des données amassées lors d'études précédentes) a été effectuée sur 22 recherches dans lesquelles des stimuli verbaux avaient été utilisés dans plus d'une témoire épisodique. Des 24 comparaisons fournies par les recherches, 21 appuient l'existence d'une gradation. Ce résultat suggère que l'hypothese des opérations auto-initiées est valide.

Keywords

Episodic MemorySelf-initiated OperationsEnvironmental SupportMémoire épisodiqueopérations auto-initiéessoutien environnemental.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , Winter/hiver 1995 , pp. 686 - 696
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1995

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