Age-related differences in cognition: the role of distraction control.

Full Abstract

The ability to ignore or control the processing of distracting information may underlie many age-related and individual differences in cognitive abilities. Using a large sample of adults aged 18 to 87 years, this article presents data examining the mediating role of distraction control in the relationship between age and higher order cognition. The reading with distraction task (Connelly, Hasher, & Zacks, 1991) has been used as a measure of the access function of distraction control. Results of this study suggest that distraction control, as measured by this paradigm, plays an important role in mediating age-related effects on measures of working memory and matrix reasoning. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Darowski, Emily S (ES); Helder, Elizabeth (E); Zacks, Rose T (RT); Hasher, Lynn (L); Hambrick, David Z (DZ);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. swensene(-atsign-)msu.edu

Grants: R37 AG04306 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Neuropsychology (Neuropsychology), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 22 (issue 5) : pp 638-44

Dates: Created 2008/09/03; Completed 2008/10/21;

PMID: 18763883, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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