Effects of cognitive training and testing on intellectual efficacy beliefs in elderly adults
Article Abstract:
A number of cognitive abilities, such as memory and fluid intelligence, are thought to diminish in the elderly. Studies have shown that the elderly can be trained to increase performance in these areas in order to make up for these losses. These studies have focused mainly on performance of cognitive tasks, and not on beliefs about one's ability to perform these tasks. For the training to be successful in the long run, the individual's self-efficacy beliefs and perceived abilities to perform these tasks must be enhanced. This study examined the effects of cognitive training regarding fluid intelligence, with and without training to enhance intellectual self-efficacy beliefs, in elderly adults. The study randomly placed 116 elderly adults into one of four treatment groups. The first group was a pretest-only control group, the second a no-contact control group, the third a retest control group which received training for fluid intelligence but not ability training, and the fourth was an ability training group. Intelligence tests were given to all four groups prior to the training and to groups 2, 3, and 4 after the training. A self-concept questionnaire was given to all four groups following the post-test. Results showed that for the trained tasks, the retest group and the ability trained group scored significantly higher than the control group on post-testing. The ability trained group had significantly higher scores for sense of efficacy in performing the tasks they were trained for than did the other three groups. There were no differences between the groups with regard to self-efficacy for everyday activities. These results indicate that the elderly can be trained to have increased intellectual efficacy beliefs about themselves, but that this training does not necessarily affect other areas of cognitive functioning. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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Recognizing and naming faces: aging, memory retrieval, and the tip of the tongue state
Article Abstract:
The elderly do not perform as well on memory tests as younger people do, and many elderly people report that the inability to remember proper names which are on the tips of their tongues is the most frustrating part about changes in mental acuity as they grow older. This study of 70 volunteers from 50 to 79 years of age used a face recognition test to examine the ability to recall names from memory and biographical information about the person. Pictures of famous people, such as Prince Charles, Ronald Reagan and Sean Connery, were used. The ability to identify faces decreased with age, as did the ability to recall biographical information about the person. The number of ''tip of the tongue'' (TOT) responses rose with age. There are two possible reasons for this: either face recognition units in the memory system fire as efficiently in the elderly, but there are fewer of them; or else the elderly have as many face recognition units as the young, but they fire less efficiently. This research supports the second hypothesis. Recent research on other measures of cognitive performance found that it does not decrease with age once intelligence has been taken into account. However, this is not true for face recognition. Two conclusions can be drawn about how the elderly perceive this ability: the elderly appear to be correct in their belief that they have more problems remembering proper names as they age, and they are generally good at recognizing their own naming problems. The data suggest that the elderly have difficulty recognizing a familiar face, knowing whose face is familiar, and recalling the name of the person. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1990
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Recognizing and naming tunes: memory impairment in the elderly
Article Abstract:
The retrieval of proper names seems to be a difficult task for the elderly, as evidenced by studies which have repeatedly found the 'tip of the tongue' experience to occur commonly when the elderly are asked to recall proper names. In the present study, 69 subjects between the ages of 55 and 83 were asked if they recognized theme songs from television shows, and if so, to name the shows and provide information about the content of the program. Their responses were then analyzed with data about their television viewing habits and regarding the type of show the song was from. Vocabulary and intelligence were tested as well, to account for these possible variables. The target television programs were of three types: remote (not aired during the past five years), recent (only aired within the past five years), and frequent (frequently aired for the past several years). Overall, recognition of songs and naming of shows were best for frequent programs. Recent programs were successfully named more often than remote programs, although songs from both recent and remote programs were recognized similarly. This is in line with the expectation that a recognition task would be easier than a recall task (naming). Older subjects recognized fewer songs as familiar than younger subjects, and they were less successful at naming shows from songs they recognized. Age, therefore, appeared to be a factor in both recall and recognition memory in this sample, but recognition memory seemed to be less affected by age. These data replicate previous findings. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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