Event-related potentials differentiate the effects of aging on word and nonword repetition in explicit and implicit memory tasks

Author(s): Knight, R. T.

Journal/Book: J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 1997; 23: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 123-142.

Abstract: Explicit memory declines with age while implicit memory remains largely intact. These experiments extended behavioral findings by recording event-related potentials (ERPs) in young and elderly adults during repetition priming and recognition memory paradigms. Words and pronounceable nonwords repeated after 1 of 3 delays. Stimuli were categorized as either word-nonword or old-new. Repeated items elicited more positive-going potentials in both tasks. Hemispheric asymmetries for word and nonword processing were observed during lexical decision: Repetition effects were larger over the left hemisphere for words and over the right hemisphere for nonwords. For the young, ERP repetition effects were larger during recognition memory. For old adults, conversely, repetition produced more positive-going waveforms during lexical decision. The elderly had ERP and behavioral deficits at long recognition delays. ERP repetition effects in the elderly, like behavioral performance, were preserved in an implicit task but impaired in an explicit memory task.

Note: Article Swick D, Vet Affairs Outpatient Clin, Dept Neurol, 150 Muir Rd, Martinez,CA 94553 USA

Keyword(s): CONTINUOUS RECOGNITION MEMORY; AUDITORY SIGNAL-DETECTION; OLDER ADULTS; BRAIN POTENTIALS; RECOLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE; CONSCIOUS RECOLLECTION; LEXICAL DECISION; FREQUENCY WORDS; TIME COURSE; YOUNG

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